(Moscow, 1 October 1991) - Special Working Group for elaboration of legislation on civilian alternative service was created by Russian Supreme Soviet in the framework of its Youth Commission. It consists of 7 persons (experts in civilian and military justice and NGOs' representatives). Among members of the Working Group there are Alexander Kalinin, member of the Federal Council of the Radical Party, and Alexander Pronozin, member of the Radical Party. Pronozin will represent the Draft Bill on alternative service which was prepared by the Radical Party in last year. The Working Group must in one month elaborate the Draft Bill on alternative service and present it at the Russian Federation Supreme Soviet's convocation.

Today took place the first meeting of the Group. When organizational questions were discussed main debates developed around the procedure of granting alternative service to objectors. Some speakers suggested so called "examinational" procedure what means that objector in front of special Group must prove that he has reasons of conscience. Alexander Pronozin explained position of the Radical Party that stands for registration procedure when only formal statement of a draftee is necessary for getting alternative service. Alexander Kalinin told about non-combatant character of alternative service and that it must be fulfilled out of military machine.