On February 25 and 26, in Moscow, in the House of Tourist, took place the International Anti-Militarist Congress For Life And Freedom, organized by Committee of Soldiers' Mothers of Russian and Civic Peace Association. Sponsor of the Congress was Soros Foundation.

The majority of more than 200 participators of the Congress were chairpersons of local Committees of Soldiers' Mothers from all over Russia. Thus, it was in fact the first all-Russian congress of movement of soldiers' mothers. Also representatives of foreign anti-militarist and pacifist organizations (Quaker Peace & Service, Swedish Peace & Arbitration Society, Buddhist order Nippo-ze Meho-zi, etc.), as well as political forces, in particular - Adelheid Troescher, member of German Bundestag (SPD), have been participated. The big delegation of Chechen mothers and Committee of Ingush Women was present too.

The delegation of the Transnational Radical Party participated in the Congress very active. In the lobby of the congress hall it was installed a table with Radical Party's flag, where everybody could sign appeal to Russian parliament and president "For Conscientious Objection Right, Against Militarism", as well as get Radical materials and join the RP for 1995.

The first half of Saturday, February 25 was dedicated completely to the war in Chechnya. The subject of afternoon session, which continued also on the next day, was formulated as "Militarism And Russian Legislation".

Nikolaj Khramov, member of Radical Party's General Council, in his speech, which was four times interrupted by applause, stressed that "Chechnya will be repeated again and again, in other places and under other names, until the real master in our country will remain militarism". He called up the participants do not be afraid the word "politics" and open in the country a wide anti-militarist campaign, whose basic political goal on the first stage should be the soonest adoption by State Duma a good conscientious objection law, and later as a strategic goal the all-Russian referendum about changes of armed forces' completing principles and refusing from conscription was indicated. As methods of this campaign N. Khramov proposed not only to fulfil successfully the initiative on collecting signatures under appeal to the parliament and president for conscientious objection right, but also to organize a Gandhist non-violent campaign of civil disobedience, openly objecting the draft until colonial war in Chechnya is

going on and a legislative mechanism of constitutional right to refuse military service is still absent. "We must disrupt the spring draft to the armed forces of Russian Federation", - declared Nikolaj Khramov. He also appealed to the partakers to join Radical Party for 1995, because it is necessary for existence of the party in Russia and carrying out its anti-militarist campaign, that not less than 12,000 of Russian citizens join it, paying a minimum membership fee (8 dollars or 35,000 rubles).

In other interventions - by Maria Kirbasova, chairwoman of Russian Committee of Soldiers' Mothers; Valentina Melnikova, press secretary of the Committee, and others - was also expressed the appeal to hold Gandhist non-violent actions of civil disobedience: to refuse military service as a protest against war in Chechnya and until a normal conscientious objection law will be adopted.

The Congress adopted a number of motions and appeal, including Special Motion on right to refuse military service.

During two days of Congress 11 new members joined Radical Party for 1995, paying totally 405,000 rubles of fees, including Maria Kirbasova; Valentina Melnikova; Ljudmila Zinchenko, chairwoman of Cheljabinsk Committee of Soldiers' Mothers; Ella Poljakova, chairwoman of Saint Petersburg Soldiers' Mothers Organization, and others.