(Moscow, 23 July, 1997) -- During the recently ended spring draft campaign, military authorities trample brutally the laws, violating citizens' constitutional rights, now as half year, one or two years ago. The case of Nikolaj Mozhzhukhin, a draftee from Nekouz district, Yaroslavl region is so emblematic as flagrant.

On November 20, 1996 Nikolaj Mozhzhukhin declared his conscientious objection to military service in front of military enlistment commission in Nekouz district military commissariat. He requested to commit according to Art. 59.3 of Russian Constitution his military service by alternative civilian service. Enlistment commission refused Mozhzhukhin's request and has taken decision to draft him to the military. Nikolaj Mozhzhukhin complaint to the court against the commission's decision.

On November 25, 1996 the court of Nekouz district decided to satisfy Mozhzhukhin's complaint and to consider illegal enlistment commission's actions, because "refusal by enlistment commission to grant the plaintiff right to perform alternative civilian service represents violation of Russian Federation Constitution."

Despite the court's decision entered into legal force, on June 24, 1997 Nikolaj Mozhzhukhin has been called again to military commissariat where he was obliged to arrive on June 30 to the Yaroslavl regional draft site in order to "verify legitimacy of his draft." Being a law-abiding citizen and being sure in his legal rights approved by the court, Mozhzhukhin arrived to the draft site at prescribed time. There he has been forced to subscribe necessary documents and at the same day he has been driven to a missile base in Rybinsk, Yaroslavl region (Unit No. 41686 of the Main Missile & Artillery Dept.) "in order to perform military service".

On July 11 commander of missile base gave Mozhzhukhin one day off in order to let him be fired from his job, lock the apartment and arrange his other private affairs. Being given free, Nikolaj Mozhzhukhin immediately addressed to ARA in order to defend his rights. The day after he submitted his claim to the Main Military Prosecutor's Office against unlawful actions made by officers of Nekouz military commissariat, as well as a new suit to the Nekouz district court against military commissariat and appeal to Nekouz prosecutor's office demanding to restore legality and defend his rights.

On June 18 Valerij Borscev, member of the State Duma (Jabloko group) and president of ARA, has made a written interpellation to the Main Military Prosecutor Jury Demin about the flagrant lawlessness toward Nikolaj Mozhzhukhin.

Today the Anti-militarist Radical Association has formally presented its request to the Prosecutor General of Russian Federation Mr. Jury Skuratov, demanding to conduct prosecutor's examination and to secure legality and civil rights of Nikolaj Mozhzhukhin.

In relation to the matter, secretary of ARA Nikolaj Khramov declared:

``Mozhzhukhin's case by no means is an isolated event. More and more often we see: not some highwaymen, but the very legal armed gangs kidnap Russian citizens, neither in Chechnya, nor in Caucasus, but in the very middle of Russia. Prosecutor General must restore legality and secure citizens' constitutional rights. We will gain, the prosecutor's office will fulfil its function.''

On Monday, July 28 in Russian American Press & Information Center (ul. Prechistenka, 10) the ARA organizes news conference dedicated to Nikolaj Mozhzhukhin's case, as well as to other violations of conscientious objectors' rights and development of "Civil Obedience Campaign" in favour of alternative civilian service bill, conducted by the ARA and "Particular Case" program on TV-6 Moscow channel. The news conference starts at 14.00. Among the participants of the news conference:

- Nikolaj KHRAMOV, secretary of ARA;

- Valerij BORSCEV, member of the State Duma, president of ARA;

- Vadim HESSE, member of ARA secretariat, conscientious objector;

- Ilja NABATOV, member of ARA, conscientious objector, several weeks ago kidnapped by military and released after ARA's interference.

On Thursday, July 31, at 12.00 militants of ARA will demonstrate in front of Russian Federation Prosecutor General Office (ul. Bolshaya Dmitrovka, 15a) demanding to secure conscientious objectors' constitutional rights, violated by military authorities and, in particular, to take immediate measures for release of Nikolaj Mozhzhukhin, a Russian citizen kidnapped and illegally seized by militaries.

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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