HUMAN RIGHTS INFORMATION AGENCY "EXPRESS-CHRONICLE"

ENGLISH WEEKLY NEWS DIGEST

27 May 1997

MOSCOW (ARA) On 22 May a court in the town of Korolev in Moscow region, presided over by Judge Valentina Gribchenkova, granted an appeal from conscientious objector Aleksei Pogonin against the illegality of a decision by the enlistment commission, and thus recognised the constitutional right of conscripts to alternative civilian service. On 8 April this year the enlistment commission of Korolev ruled to enlist Pogonin despite his declaration of refusal to perform military service and his demand that he be sent on alternative civilian service.