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Anti-militarist Radical Association (ARA)

For Immediate Release

Moscow, May 22, 1997

On May 22, 1997 in Korolev city (Moscow region) the city court satisfied the complaint submitted by Aleksej Pogonin, adherent of ARA, against illegal decision of military enlistment commission which drafted him to military service on April 8, this year despite of his request for alternative civilian service.

The judge Valentina Gribchenkova, applying directly the Article 59.3 of Russian Constitution, acknowledged invalid the Resolution of Russian Supreme Soviet passed on May 19, 1993 where the attempt to abolish the constitutional right on conscientious objection until passing the alternative civilian service has been made. Exactly by this Resolution the position of the enlistment commission has been advocated in the court by the representative of the military enlistment commission. Exactly this Resolution is being used already for four years by military commissariats to misinform conscripts and violate their legal right on conscientious objection.

After the court session, in order to avoid further misunderstandings, Sergej Sorokin, member of ARA secretariat, together with Aleksej Pogonin, met Mr. Aleksandr Rudev, vice mayor of Korolev responsible for conscription campaign in the city. Radical activists explained him about position and activity of Radical Party and ARA regarding the issue of conscientious objection.

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