Express-Chronicle - News Summary # 1822 (Day Issue)

Wednesday, December 6, 1995

MOSCOW. <01> THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE PICKET TAKING PLACE NEAR THE STATE DUMA'S OFFICE ON DECEMBER 6 DEMANDED THE DEPUTIES TO ADOPT THE LAW ON THE ALTERNATIVE CIVIC SERVICE AT THE SESSION. The picket was arranged by the Anti-Military Radical Association and the "Anti-Fascist Youth Action" movement. The picketers held slogans: "Law, Good Law, Law as Soon as Possible!" "Alternative Civic Service -- Immediately!" "The Service for sake of Peace, not Bulding Batallions for Generals!" "Deputies! Vote for V. Borschyov's Amendments!" and others. They also distributed leaflets which ran: "We ask deputies we elected two years ago to adopt the Law "On Alternative Civic Service" immedieately and take into account our demands to this law". The demands of the picketers are the following: first, the alternative service must have no attitude to the service in military forces auxiliary units; second, "no commissions should find out whether a recruit's convictions are franc"; third, the termof the alternative service must not

be longer than the term of the military one.

During an hour the picketers handed the leaflets out to deputies, the Duma's staff, journalists and passers-by. Victor Sheinis, a deputy of the "Yabloco" faction, and Vitaly Savitsky, a deputy of "Russia's Choice" faction, one of the authors of the draft law on the alternative service met with the picketers. The consideration of the draft law is scheduled on 4.45 p.m.