Bulletin of antimilitarist actions
Issue # 8, January 6, 1998
Published in Russian and English languages
by the Antimilitarist Radical Association (ARA),
an association of the Transnational Radical Party
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ARA - ANTIMILITARIST RADICAL ASSOCIATION
Pechatnikov Per. 6
103045 Moscow, RUSSIA
Tel.: +7-095-208.1805, 208.4902
Fax : +7-095-208.1805
E-mail: ara@glasnet.ru
Internet URL: http://www.glasnet.ru/~ara
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with SUBSCRIBE AM-ENG or SUBSCRIBE AM-RUS
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THE SECOND CONGRESS OF THE ANTIMILITARIST RADICAL ASSOCIATION:
MOSCOW, JANUARY 16 AND 17, 1999
Moscow, December 5, 1998
Dear friends!
We invite you to take part in the Second Congress of the Antimilitarist Radical Association, which is held in Moscow on Saturday and Sunday, January 16 and 17, 1999 in the Andrey Sakharov Museum & Public Center "Peace, Progress, Human Rights" (Zemljanoj Val 57, bld 6; metro station "Kurskaja" or "Chkalovskaja", then 5 min. by walk).
Beginning of works on Saturday, January 16, at 11:00. Registration of participants from 10:00.
During the Congress we should analyze results of our more than two-years activity, struggle, victories and defeats: first of all concerning priorities determined by the First Congress of ARA - struggle for the law on alternative civilian service. We should discuss and plan directions of our activity on the future, take decisions determining our priorities for the next year. In particular, having analyzed results of four-years struggle in the State Duma and behind its walls finished by final refusal of our parliament to accept the law on alternative civilian service, we should discuss a hypothesis of transferring the Center of our struggle onto organization of an all-Russian front for abrogation of conscription, mobilization of all democratic, liberal, antimilitarist forces of our country for abolishing of conscription slavery almost one and a half centuries after abolishing of serfdom slavery. We should develop concrete strategy by our antimilitarist struggle, which ARA will carry out together with Radical P
arty. The secretary of Radical Party and member of the European Parliament Olivier Dupuis will take part in our Congress too.
We should also elect new statutory bodies of ARA: General Council, Secretary, Treasurer, President.
Simultaneously we inform you on the beginning of enrollment campaign in ARA for the 1999. As always, the amount of annual membership/adhesion fee in ARA is not limited, the minimal necessary amount for 1999 is established: 10 US dollars in roubles at the rate of the Russian Federation Central Bank at date of payment (as of today - 204 rubles, that is about 56 kopecks per day). As before, it is possible to pay this sum at once or in parts. It is possible to make by one of three ways:
* personally in the Moscow office of Radical Party and ARA on Pechatnikov Per. (metro station "Chistye Prudy", "Turgenevskaja", "Cvetnoj Buljvar" or "Suharevskaja") from 11:00 till 21:00 in week-days, from 11:00 till 18:00 on Saturday;
* to send the post/telegraphic transfer to the address <103045 Moscow, Pechatnikov Per. 6, ARA>, having specified on the form applicability of payment (enrollment in ARA for 1999);
* bank transfer: acc. 40703810800000000502 in OAO "Bank Rossijskij Kredit", addressee ANAO "ARA International".
We remind you that it is possible to join ARA as a member (in this case it is necessary to be also a member of Radical Party) or as an adherent.
We draw your attention that only those enrolled in ARA for 1999 as members or adherents can take part in the Congress with the right of vote.
The successful realization of our Congress depends also on your enrollment in ARA for 1999: also because we can cover the charges on its organization only by your enrollment fees. Please, as soon as possible confirm your decision to join ARA, having called in our Moscow office or having sent a message on pager: (095) 230-4141, user 24712.
Any additional information concerning congress you can get calling (095) 208-1805 or 208-4902.
We rely very much on your positive response, on renewal of your membership in ARA for the next year, as well as on your active participation in the Congress and in realization of decisions which we will take together on the Congress.
Let us see each other in Sakharov Museum!
Nikolaj KHRAMOV, Secretary
Anna ZAJCEVA, Treasurer ad interim
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TATARSTAN PREPARES A LAW ON ALTERNATIVE CIVILIAN SERVICE
Kazan, July 15. According to the "Izvestia", the State Council of Tatarstan has accepted in the first reading the republican law "On Alternative Civilian Service". The law in preparation meets the norms of the Russian Constitution and differs with the similar draft bill in the State Duma providing fulfilling of alternative service by young people on that territory, where they are conscripted. It is supposed, that this law - the first regional law in Russia which is taking into account conscience or belief of recruits, will be accepted by the end of year.
A NEW POLITICAL ORGANIZATION IS FOUND: CLUB KHRAMOV - ASSOCIATION FOR LIBERTARIAN REFORMS
Moscow, July 17. Several dozens of Radical Party's and ARA's members found a new political public organization "Club Khramov - Association for Libertarian Reforms" at the assembly which was taking place in National Press Institute. Among priorities of this new organization is abrogation of conscription and transition to the professional principle of recruitment of Russian armed forces. Unlike Radical party and ARA, Club Khramov will be able to take part in elections.
126 MUSCOVITES HAVE DECLARED THEIR CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION IN THE SPRING OF 1998
Moscow, July 27. Mr. E. Bakirov, the vice premiere of Moscow government, has informed in reply to inquiry of Valerij Borscev, MP: during the spring draft campaign 126 citizens submitted applications for replacement of military service by the alternative civilian service in district draft commissions of the city. 52 citizens have addressed to judicial bodies with the claims on the decisions of draft commissions. As of July 20, 7 claims were considered and refused by courts.
A JEHOVAH WITNESS IS SENTENCED TO ONE YEAR OF IMPRISONMENT FOR CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION
Sochi, July 28. The Central district regional court of Sochi has sentenced Vadim Nazarov, a Jehovah Witness, to one year of imprisonment for objection to military service on religious grounds.
PRESIDENT OF ARA ASKS TO EXPLAIN POSITION OF THE SUPREME COURT
Moscow, August 12. Mr Valerij Borscev, president of ARA and member of the State Duma has addressed to Mr Vjacheslav Lebedev, Chairman of the Supreme Court. In his letter Mr Borscev expresses reliance, that "as the usual judicial practice on businesses connected to realization of the right of the citizen on an alternative civil service requires change, this could be promoted by passing of a resolution of the Plenary of the Supreme Court of Russian Federation on the question of legitimacy of the belief proof" and asks to explain the Supreme Court's position regarding the matter.
SENTENCE FOR VADIM NAZAROV IN SOCHI IS CANCELLED
Krasnodar, September 9. Sentence of the Central district court from July 28, 1998 for Vadim Nazarov, a Jehovah Witness conscientious objector is cancelled by decision of the Krasnodar regional court. Proceeding of the case is stopped, the interdiction measure for Mr Nazarov as holding in custody is cancelled.
THE FIRST COURT SESSION ON CRIMINAL CASE OF ALEKSEJ BYKOV
Moscow, September 16. In Golovinskij intermunicipal court of Moscow the first session was held during the process on accusation of Aleksej Bykov, member of ARA, in "evasion from military service" (Art. 328 of the Russian Federation Criminal Code). Soon after beginning of the session the break till October 5 was announced.
"BUSINESS GAME" IN THE STATE DUMA
Moscow, September 21. In the State Duma of Russian Federation a business game named "Draft law on alternative civilian service" was held. As the organizers have informed, the "game" was carried out by the employees of Committee on public associations of the State Duma together with Human Rights and Democracy Institute (Russia), as well as with some European organizations within the framework of the "DEMOS" project. The representatives of ARA were not invited to participate in this "game".
MILITARY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR OF MOSCOW LIES ON NEWSPAPER'S PAGES
Moscow, September 23. The secretary of ARA Nikolaj Khramov has directed today an official application addressed to the General Public Prosecutor Mr Jurij Skuratov with the requirement to indict the military public prosecutor of Moscow Mr Aleksandr Ivanov on the art. 140 of Criminal Code (granting of incomplete or obviously false information about the rights and liberties of citizens). On September 17, Mr Ivanov has given interview to the newspaper "Moskovskij Komsomolec", where, having mentioned the question of the right of the citizens to replacement of a military service by an alternative civil service, guaranteed by art. 59 comma 3 of Constitution of Russian Federation, he asserted, that "objection to serve in the army motivated with desire to pass alternative civilian service, is equated to usual evasion from military draft and, naturally, entails criminal prosecution".
ONE MORE CRIMINAL CASE AGAINST A CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR
Moscow, September 29. The Golovinskij interdistrict public prosecutor's office of Moscow initiated the criminal case on art. 328 of Criminal Code ("evasion from military and alternative civilian service") against Ivan Kuznetsov, an adherent of ARA. Earlier he has declared his conscientious objection, having demanded, according to art. 59 comma 3 of the Constitution of Russian Federation, to replace his military service by alternative civilian service. However, as well as in all similar cases, the draft commission has given up to him and has passed the decision about his draft for military service, which was not obeyed by Mr Kuznetsov as an unlawful one.
BEGINNING OF AUTUMN DRAFT CAMPAIGN: "NO NEW RECRUIT IN THE ARMY, WHICH REPRESENTING FATAL THREAT FOR ITS OWN COUNTRY, ITS CITIZENS"
Moscow, October 1. In relation to the beginning of regular autumn draft campaign Nikolaj Khramov, secretary of ARA, has made the statement, where, in particular, he says: "Today's Russian Army <...> represents fatal threat for its own country, its economy and its own young citizens <...> The one-and-half million's monster, inheritated by Russia from the Soviet Union, a monster absorbing more then a third part of the state budget, is one of real reasons of the crisis which has emerged in August <...> The immediate, cardinal reduction of armed forces is necessary <...> 700 or 800 thousand of conscripts - that is the first echelon of reductions. The positions of the soldiers and sergeants should be replaced by professional military, it means by military officers".
THE CASE OF ALEKSEJ BYKOV IS SENT BACK TO INVESTIGATION
Moscow, October 5. The Golovinskij intermunicipal court of Moscow has passed today the decision to suspend proceeding of the case on accusation of ARA member Aleksej Bykov in evasion from military service, having directed the case back in Golovinskij interdistrict public prosecutor's office for the new investigation.
APPEAL OF ARA LEADERS TO THE STATE DUMA MEMBERS
Moscow, October 6. On the eve of parliamentarian debates on draft bill on alternative civilian service Nikolaj Khramov, secretary of ARA, and Anna Zajceva, acting treasurer, have sent letters to all members of the State Duma asking them to vote for this law.
STATE DUMA HAS REJECTED THE DRAFT LAW ON ALTERNATIVE CIVILIAN SERVICE
Moscow, October 7. With 159 votes against 78 the State Duma today has rejected the second reading of the proposed federal law on alternative civilian service. The parliamentary groups of the Communist Party, "Our Home - Russia", Agrarian Group and "People's Power" have voted against it. "Jabloko" and "Russian Regions" have favoured the draft. The Liberal-Democratic Party has evaded from participation in voting. ARA Secretary Nikolaj Khramov has made the following statement: "Today's discussion and voting have shown that none of the Russian authorities need the law on alternative civilian service. Nobody, "except" the millions of Russians of the call-up age and their relatives. <...> The number of conscientious objectors is increasing in geometrical progression. Just there, at thousands of courts all over the country, not in the corridors and the plenary hall of Duma, will be finally resolved the fate of the alternative civilian service law, and, in a wider sense, the fate of the liberal military reform in Ru
ssia."
KOSOVO: LAW AND JUSTICE ARE MORE EFFECTIVE WEAPON, THAN MISSILES
Moscow, October 7. Statement of Nikolaj Khramov, secretary of ARA: "It is hard to imagine something more pitiful, ridiculous and yet nasty than vision of almost all of the Russian political establishment figures throwing themselves to protect Milosevic against "NATO militarists". You see, the Russian Army where ordinary soldiers are dying from cold and hunger, where hundreds of them committing suicide and thousands are running away, where officers do not receive their salary for years, where nine of the ten tanks are suitable only for spare parts - that same army "is equipped with all the necessary to carry out any order of the President and Government regarding the current situation in Kosovo"! However, this does not mean that missile and bomb strike on Serbian military targets are the best way of resolving the Kosovo problem. The solution for the Balkan nations (including the Serbs themselves) is in the radical action on the problem of Milosevic. The only way to do that is to politically neutralize the Bel
grade dictator by bringing in an official indictment against him at Hague Tribunal, formally incriminating the war crimes and the crimes against humanity which had been and still being committed since 1991 in Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo. This is exactly the aim of the impetuously growing worldwide campaign organized by Transnational Radical Party to collect the signatures on the appropriate official appeal addressed to Tribunal in Hague. Law and Justice is more strong, precise and effective weapon than the cruise missiles. And, thank God, the use of this weapon does not need to be approved by Russia that becomes more and more shaded into red and brown."
MIHAIL CHULAKI: ALTERNATIVE SERVICE IS NOT NECESSARY IN RUSSIA?
Moscow, October 10. Mr Mihail Chulaki, a writer known before as supporter of democracy, has published an article in "Izvestia" where in particular he states: "The demand for evasion from army in Russia is huge. The real protection is necessary today for those simple honored guys, which come to serve, not evading. It would be thousand times more urgent, than hypocritical instruction about alternative, ostensibly not military, service for the profit of the same, the most militarized state! World without wars, without fear, without weapon will come not earlier, than the distinctions between the peoples and religions, discord between rich and poor will disappear."
"STOP MILOSEVIC" - RADICAL DEMONSTRATION AT THE STATE DUMA
Moscow, October 16. About two dozens of Radical Party's and ARA activists have carried out demonstration at the State Duma building in Okhotny Ryad with slogans "Stop Milosevic", "No to bombs, yes to arrest of Milosevic", "Freedom for Kosovo, democracy for Serbia", "Defend Serbian brothers against national bolshevist regime of Milosevic". Radicals appealed to the Duma members asking them to support the request to the Hague tribunal for indictment for war crimes Serbian president Slobodan Milosevic. Demonstrators have been attacked by activists of "Labour Russia", also gathered at the State Duma to express their support to the anti-semitic expressions of Gen. Makashov. Militants of Labour Russia attacked Radicals shrewing and trying to tear the posters, but were pushed aside by militia.
PUBLIC PROSECUTOR HAS BEEN "MISUNDERSTOOD"
Moscow, October 16. In a letter addressed to Nikolaj Khramov, Mr A. P. Nikitin, chief of analytical dept. of the Main Military Prosecutor's Office, informs that there was the investigation carried out on the interview given by the Military Public Prosecutor of Moscow A. Ivanov to the newspaper "îoskovskij čomsomolec". The investigation was carried out in relation with the appeal of the secretary of ARA. "In the prepared reduced variant of article published in the newspaper, a mistake was found. In this occasion Mr Ivanov has independently sent his specification to mass media. Mr Ivanov was strictly warned by the Main Military Public Prosecutor of the mistake appeared during the preparation of publication," the letter says.
CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR SENTENCED TO 6 MONTHS OF IMPRISONMENT CONDITIONALLY AND AMNESTIED
Moscow, October 21. The Golovinskij intermunicipal court of Moscow has passed its verdict on the case of Sergej Sarychev, adherent of ARA and conscientious objector accused on art. 328 comma 1 of the Criminal Code of Russian Federation (evasion from military service). Mr Sarychev was found guilty and sentenced to six months of imprisonment conditionally. According to the verdict, the amnesty is applied, and he is released from the punishment.
ACTION OF ARA ACTIVISTS AT MOSCOW RECRUITMENT OFFICE
Moscow, October 23. The activists of ARA have responded to the appeal of Moscow Military Commissariat to muscovites to take part in an "open doors day", organized on city recruitment office for recruits and their parents. Antimilitarists distributed among visitors, to displeasure of the military, several hundreds of leaflets with information on conscientious objection right guaranteed by Constitutional.
GENERAL COUNCIL OF ARA EXPRESSES FOR LAUNCHING OF CAMPAIGN FOR ABROGATION OF CONSCRIPTION
Moscow, October 23. The session of General Council of ARA was held in the State Duma building. The basic subject of debate became the political situation after October 7, when the State Duma has rejected in the second reading the draft law on alternative civilian service. Summarizing the debate, General Council has approved its General Motion. It has confirmed "a basic libertarian position about incompatibility of any obligatory service - whether it be military or civilian - both with principles of freedom and priority of personal rights, and with needs of defense and safety on threshold of the Third Millennium". General Council has expressed for concentration of ARA's efforts "on launching campaign for transition to professional recruitment of armed forces of Russian Federation", having charged the executive bodies of the association "to develop the plan of such a campaign in Russia and to present it for consideration of the Second congress of ARA."
The particular motion in support of the international campaign of Radical Party for indictment Serbian president Slobodan Milosevic for war crimes was passed too.
IN VOLGOGRAD REGION COURT HAS TAKEN THE SIDE OF A CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR
Volzhskij, October 28. The Volzhskij city court has taken decision about satisfaction of the complaint, presented by a recruit Roman Kudinov against illegal decision of the draft commission which decided to draft him, despite of his declared conscientious objection.
GALINA STAROVOJTOVA, MEMBER OF GENERAL COUNCIL OF ARA, DIED AS A SOLDIER - ON WAR WHICH IS CONDUCTED AGAINST ALL OF US BY THOSE WHO HATES FREEDOM
Moscow, November 21. Statement of Nikolaj Khramov, secretary of ARA:
"<...> Galina Starovojtova died as a soldier: on war, which is conducted against all of us by those who hates freedom, who wants to return us "back into the future" - be it communist or mafia's, red or brown, no matter <...> Galina Starovojtova was not only one of the most popular liberal and democratic politicians in Russia. She was also our companion: member of General Council of the Antimilitarist Radical Association, one of the few consequent friends of the Radical Party in the State Duma who participated in all initiatives of the Radical Party - whether it be struggle for freedom of Tibet and democracy in China, campaign for creation of the International Criminal Court, counteraction to militarism and battle for the law on alternative civilian service, struggle against prohibitionist policy on drugs, criminal and vital for narcomafia... She was among those five (only five!) members of Russian parliament, who this autumn have found in themselves wisdom and courage to join openly the international campaig
n for indictment for war crimes the Serbian dictator Milosevic. Galina Starovojtova was a politician of tomorrow's Russia - a free, democratic, lawful state. They are so few today, such politicians, in our unfortunate country. Very few. It is easy not only to count them by fingers, but also to shoot coolly one by one. But nevertheless, the customers of this murder doomed on defeat in the war announced by them to the Russian citizens. Because the ideals of freedom, for which has given her life Galina Starovojtova, ideals of a civil society and Rule of Law will win. Even if it seems today that force is not on their side."
IRAQ: NIKOLAJ KHRAMOV SUPPORTED THE ANGLO-AMERICAN ACTION
Moscow, December 20. While the Radical activists demonstrated with Stars and Stripes banner at American embassy in Rome, supporting the military action of USA and Great Britain in Iraq, Nikolaj Khramov secretary of ARA has made his statement. It states in particular: "Last days we witnessed how the United States and Great Britain have undertaken and with success have fulfilled mission on disarmament of the terrorist and dictatorial regime of Saddam Hussein. America and England once again has shown, that they are able to face challenge from those who openly spits on UN resolutions, and to give an adequate answer. My sympathies, sympathy of many my companions - Russian radicals and liberals were these days on Clinton's and Blair's side. <...> It is senseless to complain that the British-American military action was carried out besides UN Security Council. In the Security Council the right of veto uses our country: a country, openly supporting war criminals, all terrorist and dictatorial regimes in the world, a
country in whose parliament more and more open and unpunishedly sound the statements which were pronounced last time in the "parliament" of the Third Reich. What kind of security, what kind of peace can guarantee such a Security Council? In this situation the only remaining super power has shown enough force and determination to put back on its place the Baghdad regime and to reject at least for one year back its ability to creation of the weapon of mass destruction."
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