#10 - RW 266
RosBusinessConsulting
July 24, 2003
Ex-Defense Minister: Reform will destroy our army

In the course of the military reform, Russia's defense potential decreases, and the quality of the armed forces worsens, Igor Rodionov, a member of the State Duma and the former Defense Minister, told reporters on Thursday. "The state of the armed forces is worse than critical, only fragments remained from our defense and our army," he noted.

In Mr. Rodionov's opinion, "there still remains something good and professional" in the Russian forces, but there's no single system capable of meeting new threats and challenges. "Russia's opinion is still respected thanks to its strategic nuclear forces," he added.

Speaking about the reform of the armed forces, the former Defense Minister said that an attempt to create a small professional army in Russia, without draftees, is doomed to fail. He added that the Russian economy was not ready for that.

Mr. Rodionov believes it necessary to introduce contract-based service for sergeants, and continue drafting soldiers. "Only after the contract-based service has been introduced for sergeants and the country has become richer, can we speak about the transfer of soldiers to the contract service," he stressed.

At the same time, Mr. Rodionov supports the introduction of an alternative service in Russia. "No doubt, an alternative service should exist, but it should not be more attractive than normal military service, because otherwise, nobody will serve in the army," the ex-Defense Minister said.

Earlier this week, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree "On the organization of alternative civil service". The decree defines the Labor Ministry and the Defense Ministry as federal executive agencies responsible for organizing alternative civil service. It also lays down the functions of federal executive agencies interested in sending citizens to their organizations for alternative civil service. The decree comes into effect on January 1, 2004.

According to the new rules, the period of alternative civil service will be 3.5 years if it is performed in civil organizations and 3 years -- in the organizations of the armed forces.

Applicants for alternative civil service will have to prove that service in the armed forces contradicts their convictions. The persuasiveness of their arguments will be assessed by draft committees. Draft committees will also decide where alternative service should be performed -- in civil organizations or in the armed forces (as civilian personnel).

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