Moscow, December 11, 1994

Dear Mr. (Mrs.) ...,

On December 14 the Conscientious Objection Draft Bill, jointly prepared by Committee on public associations and religious organizations and Committee on defence, must be presented in State Duma for first reading. The Draft Bill is, without any doubt, an important step towards the removing that intolerable situation, when Russia rests almost the only European country, where the right to object military service is still not legally provided.

Nevertheless, according to our deep conviction, the Draft Bill contains a number of regulations, which prevent it to be considered as a really democratic one. First of all, because of the provided for Military Enlistment Offices possibility to decide by themselves, whose convictions are sincere and merit the granting of Alternative Civilian Service, and whose not. It is easily to imagine, what for a wonderful possibility for future abuse is laid down here. But the most important: this regulation contradicts flagrantly to the right to object military service, considered as a universal civilian right.

The amendments to the Conscientious Objection Draft Bill, which we propose, are summarized in the joint memorandum of the Radical Party and Committee of Soldier's Mothers, which is entitled "Towards Alternative Civilian Service As A Universal Civilian Right" and sent earlier to the members of the involved Committees of Duma.

We urgently request you to undertake during the first reading debates on the Conscientious Objection Draft Bill all the possible steps in order to introduce into the text of the Bill the amendments, providing the registration, but not permitting character of granting Alternative Civilian Service, as well as amendments depriving the Military Enlistment Offices the possibility to establish the sincerity of one's convictions.

On behalf of Radical Party secretariat and Committee of Soldiers' Mothers,

Nikolaj Khramov

member of General Council

of Radical Party