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Press Release of ARA

Moscow, June 25, 1997

For Immediate Release

``Concerning the main part of Lev Rokhlin's appeal to "Russia's military servicemen" it's possible only to say that there is nothing new for those following with attention the activity of chairman of Duma defence committee. After the "crying minister" Rodionov left Arbat square for fishing in his dacha's pond, exactly general Rokhlin - a "hero" of Grozny cleansing - became in fact a banner of militarist and anti-reformist forces. It is exactly him, whom Russian draftees and their relatives should thank for alternative civilian service law not yet passed till now. It is exactly he, who initiated and supported the new shameful draft law on conscription and military service adopted in the second lecture on Monday, a draft law which is aimed to bury all the plans of military reform and to promote further militarization of Russian society.

But for this time, it is not matter of hampering reforms by a representative of militarist lobby on the post of Duma defence committee's chairman and not of "military & patriotic" shrieks of our domestic Mr. Forrestol. Mr. Rokhlin least of all is similar to the poor mad American defence minister who at the height of the Cold War threw himself out his window shouting "Russian tanks on Broadway!"

The matter is that general leutenant Lev Rokhlin whose military service is only suspended for the period of his parliamentarian full power, has made an appeal to the commanders of troops and units in Russian armed forces, calling them upon to sabotage directions of the President and Supreme Commander on armed forces reduction, to convene officers' reunions and put forward the demands addressed to the President of the country.

In fact, it is nothing but instigation to military rebellion.

The Prosecutor's Office should immediately undertake measures provided by law on the fact of committed crime foreseen by Art. 279 of Russian Federation Criminal Code (military rebellion), taking in consideration Art. 30 (preparation to a crime) and 33.4 (complicity in form of instigation).

Today I formally presented the respective request to the Russian Federation General Prosecutor from my personal name as from a citizen of Russian Federation.''

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