HUMAN RIGHTS INFORMATION AGENCY "EXPRESS-CHRONICLE"

ENGLISH WEEKLY NEWS DIGEST

17 May 1997

Declaration on the holding of a referendum "On the transfer of the Russian army to a professional basis"

Every day the Russian media brings news of our boys perishing in peacetime in the army, about the outrageous disorder and lawlessness reigning everywhere in amy barracks. Every day the Russia media features the announcement of the latest policy on the necessity for reform in the army. On paper, reform has been under way since 1991, but in reality, reform has not occurred, and is not occurring. The collapse of the army is under way, it is decaying and unravelling. The insatiable two-thousand strong corps of generals is the prime-mover in these processes. The Russian army in its current form is a school of slavery and criminality, through which every second Russian must pass before entering adult life. The spring decree of B. Yeltsin of 16 May 1996 #722 "On the transition...' seemingly brought clarity to these discussions and designated the problem of the transfer of the army to a contract basis as the pivotal problem of military reform, as a result of which Russia must receive a strong professional army. Howe

ver, during the course of the past year there has been no movement in this direction. Moreover, the defence minister and the generals have actually spoken out publicly against the transition to an army on a contract basis.

It is our contention, that under these conditions, there is one way out for us, the ordinary citizens of Russia whose sons are being annihilated by these ministers and generals: the adoption of a decision ourselves by a nationwide referendum.

We announce the creation of an Organising Committee for the collection of signatures for the holding of a nationwide referendum on the transfer of the Russian army to a contract basis. We appeal to public organisations, movements and parties to support our initiative.

Chairman of the Committee of Soldiers' Mothers of Russia

M.I.Kirbasova

Chairman of the Moscow Helsinki Group

L.M.Alekseyeva

The declaration was unanimously supported by the Coordinating Coyuncil of the 'Democratic Russia' movement and the federal council of the federal 'DemRossiya' party.

Co-Chairman of the movement 'Democratic Russia'

L.A.Ponomaryov.