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Press Release of Anti-militarist Radical Association (ARA)

For Immediate Release

Moscow, January 30, 1996

On January 25, 1996 Vadim Hesse, a 18-years old young man was arrested by militiamen at his own home in Zelenyj village, Noginsk district, Moscow region.

On December 15, 1995 Vadim Hesse has submitted his appeal to the Military Recruitment Office of Noginsk district, requesting to change his military service to the alternative civilian one, according to the Article 59 Part 3 of Russian Federation Constitution. The district military commissioner has accepted Hesse's appeal, but nevertheless he has issued to him the recruitment notice to be drafted on January 15, 1996. Vadim refused to arrive to the drafting point.

On January 25 Vadim Hesse appealed to the Noginsk District Court against illegal actions of the Military Commissioner. At the same day, at 6 PM he was arrested by militia in his apartment. In the militia station he was shown the arrest order issued by the Noginsk district persecutor Mr Iljin, on the accusation in committing crime provided by the Article 80 of Russian Federation Criminal Code ("evading the regular draft to the military service"). Vadim Hesse's case was submitted to Mrs Marina Frolova, investigator of the Noginsk District Prosecutor's Office (tel. +7 095 5245298).

Yesterday, on January 28, Vadim Hesse was transferred to the investigation prison of Noginsk district. Its address is: uchr. IZ-49/1, Tolstovskaja street, 142400 Noginsk, Moscow region.

Vadim Hesse's case is the first known by ARA arrest of a draftee who declared about his intention to fulfil alternative civilian service, after the new Russian Constitution guaranteeing everybody's right to refuse military service on the reasons of conscience and to replace it by alternative civilian service.

It is significant, that Vadim Hesse was arrested less than one day before the voting on the Parliamentarian Assembly of Council of Europe the question of Russia's joining this organization. Two days after Russia's admittance, Vadim Hesse, who wished to use his constitutional right on conscientious objection, was placed into prison cell.

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E-mail: ara@glasnet.ru