"EXPRESS-CHRONICLE" HUMAN RIGHTS NEWS AGENCY

NEWS SUMMARY # 1778 (day issue)

Thursday, November 9, 1995

MOSCOW. <01>

"AT PRESENT NINE SOLDIERS OF EACH TEN IN THE ARMY ARE UNNECESSARY" -- Sergey Sorokin, the coordinator of the Anti-military Radical Association's program on aid to those who refuse of military service because of the convictions and deserters, the chairman of Moscow Movement Against Violence considers. On November 9 he appeared at the press conference 'Law, Good Law, As Soon As Possible' devoted to the refuse of the military service and the admission of the law On the alternative civil service.

Answering The Express Chronicle question what the Association means speaking of a "good law" the participants in the press conference said that such law must satisfy five demands. First, the right to refuse of the military service because of the convictions must be mutual civil right. Any convictions, including moral ones, must become a legal base for the direction to the alternative service. Second, the order of the direction to the alternative service must be noticeable not permissible. No commission, military of with a participation of civic persons can or must find out recruits' convictions. Third, the period of the alternative service must not be longer that the period of the military one. Fourth, a man directed to the alternative service must have the right to choose a place and kind of service. The law must give the right to serve out of Russia. Fifth, the finance of the alternative service must fulfil on account of the budget of the Ministry of Defence.

At the press conference taking place in Russian American Press Center they distributed the copies of the application by nineteen recruits on their collective refuse of the military service, and the copies of fragments of European Parliament's annual report. The members of European Parliament consider that the right of refuse of the military service "must be included in the laws of the countries-members of European Community as one of the main rights".