PRESS-RELEASE

Kaliningrad - Moscow, December 15, 2000

At present Alexey Kapustin who was arrested by militiamen on October 20, 2000 and then was at the garrison guard-room, has been transfered to the city of Gusev, "with a view to impede public defence" as the objector's public counsel for the defense Vasily Adrianov thinks.

In March 1999 Alexey Kapustin submitted an application stating that he conscientiously objected and requesting to perform the alternative civilian service instead of the military service. Nevertheless, on April 17, 2000 the draft commission of the Moscovsky district decided to draft A.Kapustin to the military service, the complaint against this decision was lodged to the draft commission of the region. The military commissar V.Grebennikov rejected the complaint.

On October 25, 1999 the draft commission decides to draft A.Kapustin to the military service.

On November 25, 1999 the draftee is brought by the militia to the military commissariat of the Moscovsky district (military commissar N.Fedonyuk) and sent to the city of Pionersk to the military unit.

On November 29, 1999 Alexey leaves the military unit and in an interview to the newspaper "Kaliningradskaya pravda" tells of the motives of his escape, declaring that the performance of the military service still contradicts to his convictions and that the purpose of his escape is the defense of the right to perform the alternative civilian service instead of the military service.

On October 11, 2000 the investigator of the military prosecutor's office of the Chernyakhovsky garrison, lieutenant of justice Vitaly Nikolayevich Zhurenko instituted criminal proceedings against Alexey Kapustin according to the Art. 338.1 of the Russian Criminal Code - desertion, that is leaving the military unit or the place of service for the purpose of evading the military service. On October 30 Alexey was indicted.

The only one object Alexey pursued was to realize his constitutional right to perform the alternative civilian service instead of the military service. His only guilt is that he openly spoke of his convictions and antimilitary position and defended them, - thinks Vasily Adrianov, public counsel for the defense of Alexey.

For further information:

tel. (095) 208-1805 (ARA);

(0112)55-1199 (Vasily Adrianov - public counsel for the defense of Alexey Kapustin).

ANTIMILITARIST RADICAL ASSOCIATION

(associated to the Radical Party)

Pechatnikov per. 6

103045 Moscow, Russia

tel./fax: (095) 208-1805

E-mail: ara@ara.ru, a.r.a@agora.stm.it

Internet URL: http://www.ara.ru