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150,000 experience harassment in Soviet, Russian armies since 1945 - Nemtsov

MOSCOW. April 4 (Interfax) - One hundred and fifty thousand servicemen have experienced harassment in the Soviet and Russian Armed Forces since the end of the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945, leader of the Union of Right Forces parliament faction Boris Nemtsov said at a press conference at the Interfax main office on Thursday.

He called for reducing the period of active military service to six months in order to solve the harassment problem. A program of the Union of Right Forces proposes that soldiers wishing to continue their active military service do so under contract.

Nemtsov said he doubts that President Vladimir Putin will agree with the proposal of the Union of Right Forces. "I suggest with a high degree of probability that the president will describe the reduction of the active military service term from two to 1.5 years as a great achievement in his message to the parliament. Sure, that is better than two years, but it is not enough," he said.

A rally and a concert in support of the military reform proposal of the Union of Right Forces will take place on Moscow's Revolyutsii Square on Saturday, April 6, Nemtsov said. Popular singers will take part in the concert.

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