_________________________________________

Anti-militarist Radical Association (ARA)

Moscow, May 9, 1997

For Immediate Release

The Prefecture of the Central Administrative District of Moscow refused to accept the formal request submitted by the Anti-militarist Radical Association to stay in picket on May 9 on Pushkin square in Moscow for the soonest passing of the Alternative Civilian Service Law.

Officials referred to the instructions given by Moscow mayor about impossibility to organize any political actions in Moscow on May 9. That is a measure - although controversial - which nevertheless could not cause our indignation, if not only one "small exception". Exactly today, at the Victory Day, Zyuganov, Baburin, Zhirinovsky and other "fighters against NATO expansion eastwards" demonstrate with their activists near the embassies of all fourteen member states of NATO - fully "on legal base", submitting requests and getting sanctions for their actions.

It is already for a long time no secret to anybody, the xenophobic, anti-democratic and populist - on the verge of fascism - views of Mr. Luzhkov, who actively takes part in puffing up the anti-NATO hysteria and reanimation in Russian society the soviet-style cold war mentality, who attempts to create an enemy image using whomsoever - NATO, Ukraine, Chechens or simply brunets.

However, interdiction of an information picket organized by several activists demanding esteem for the Constitution and soonest approving the conscientious objection law, using a pretext of impossibility to organize street actions at the Victory Day while much more crowded actions of opponents of democracy are welcomed and sanctioned - is the upper level of political cynicism.

For more information call:

+7 095 923-9127

----------------------------------------------------------------

Anti-militarist Radical Association

an association of the Transnational Radical Party

Ul. Trubnaja 25-2-49, 103051 Moscow, Russia

Tel. / fax +7 095 923-9127

E-mail: ARA@glasnet.ru, A.R.A@agora.stm.it

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

----------------------------------------------------------------