Russian members of the Transnational Radical Party launched campaign to collect signatures under Appeal to the State Duma, Federation Council and President "For Right To Refuse Military Service, And Against Militarism". The Appeal calls upon to take into account during adoption of the Federal Law "On Alternative Civilian Service" following basic principles:

- every convictions, including moral ethical reasons, should be a legal ground for granting alternative civilian service;

- no examination of convictions by any commission - military or paramilitary - must be provided;

- duration of alternative civilian service must not exceed duration of military service;

- the possibility to choose location and kind of alternative service must be guaranteed, including possibility to complete alternative service out of Russian borders, in the framework of UN humanitarian operations;

- alternative civilian service must be financed by funds, withdrawn from military budget.

The Draft Law "On Alternative Civilian Service", prepared in the State Duma and already adopted in the first reading in the middle of December, does not respond to any of above mentioned principles.

The aims and methods of anti-militarist campaign of Russian Radicals almost literally repeat aims and methods of the historical battle, conducted by Radical Party in Italy in early 70s for recognizing the right refuse military service.

First several hundreds of signatures under the "Appeal For Right To Refuse Military Service, And Against Militarism" were collected on February 11 during the manifestation against war in Chechnya, taken place in Moscow on Pushkin Square. Russian Radicals - organizers of campaign for right of conscientious objection - intend to collect not less than 50,000 of signatures during next few months, before the Law on alternative civilian service will be finally adopted. In order to achieve this goal, during next days will be sent letters to all the members of Russian parliament - Federal Assembly, to more than 1,000 of personalities from the world of science, culture, journalism, politics, as well as to 3,000 of Radical members and supporters in Russia.

Committee of Soldiers' Mothers already adhered the Appeal, its activists joined the petition campaign both in Moscow and other Russian cities.