Novosibirsk YABLOKO Youth conducted picketing against conscription
Press release, 04.04.2016
The Novosibirsk YABLOKO Youth conducted a picket against the conscription system in Russia. The activits claim that Russia must move to a professional army based on contract principles. The protest action took place in the city centre. The local party activits also participated in the event. 
“Firstly, the draft system is a very big field for corruption. I know some people who give bribes to avoid military service. Secondly, dedovshchina [physical and psychological abuse of new recruits in the army; literally: the rule of the “grandfathers” in military jargon] takes place in the [Russian] army. We often here about the cases when soldiers were bitten in the army, they become disabled. Therefore we insists that the system must be chaged,” Kirill Maryin said.
YABLOKO Youth’s actions in support of a contract-based army also took place in Moscow, Vladikavkaz (North Ossetia) , Stavropol (the Stavropol Territory) and Yeysk (the Krasnodar Territory).
Conscription in Russia is a 12-month draft, mandatory for all male citizens age 18–27, with a number of exceptions.
Posted: April 5th, 2016 under Human Rights, Street Actions, The Russian Army, Youth Policies.