(Moscow, July 15, 1997) -- General Vladimir Ostanin, first deputy chief of recruitment dept. of the Defence Ministry, commented results of the spring draft campaign speaking in "Segodnya" newscast on NTV at 14.00.

According to gen. Ostanin, at first time for many years Russian military commissariats managed to carry out the draft plan. At the same time, according to him, the troops have been supplied with draftees only for 80 percents. 131,000 of conscripts illegally evaded the draft, among them 32 persons have been condemned by trials for evading military service.

675 Russian conscripts during the spring draft campaign demanded requested alternative civilian service instead of military service. We don't know what to do with them, said gen. Ostanin, because the law on alternative civilian service is not yet adopted. At the same time the military official responsible for draft campaign regards that alternative civilian service law is not necessary, because it will create "an additional loophole for evading military draft", meanwhile already without it too many draftees get draft delays according medicine and other reasons (education, familiar situation, etc.)

Nikolaj Khramov, secretary of ARA, commented gen. Ostanin's intervention by following way:

``The very fact of discourse against alternative civilian service - i.e. against Russian Constitution - made by one more Russian general does not represent something special. However, one should be glad that from draft campaign to draft campaign unswervingly grows amount of our co-citizens who openly, in very conformity with Law and Right demand what belongs to them according the Constitution and what generals are trying to take them off - commutation of military service by alternative civilian service. 675 persons in Russia during the only spring draft campaign - they are not yet many. But this figure looks more optimistic than 212 persons in Moscow for the whole last year. At the same time, more and more young Russians evade military service illegally.

To convince young Russian citizens not to evade military service, but openly refuse it, requesting in accordance with Law alternative civilian service, to increase the number of such conscientious objectors at least up to ten times - this is the goal which stands in front of us - anti-militarists, Radicals, advocates of right on life and life of Right. This is the task we defined in the framework of Civil Obedience Campaign, a campaign launched this spring and conducted by us together with "Particular Case" program on TV-6 Moscow and its director Alexander Gordon. Neither 212 nor 675, but seven, eight, ten thousands conscientious objectors demanding alternative civilian service - it is what could break resistance of militarist lobby. I am convinced: nonviolence, determination, respect to Law and Right will convincingly win opportunism, fears, conformism, indifference and apathy. Russian citizens shall get the law, the law needed by society, the law which risks to be stolen by regime.''

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Anti-militarist Radical Association (ARA)

Ul. Trubnaja 25-2-49, 103051 Moscow

Tel. & fax: +7 095 9239127

E-mail: ARA@glasnet.ru

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