#16
Russian politician accuses military of deceit over
professional army
Interfax
Novosibirsk, 23 November: The leader of the Union of Right Forces Boris Nemtsov has expressed support for Russian President Vladimir Putin's position for transferring the army to a contract system. However, the change is unlikely to be implemented before 2010, Nemtsov pointed out.
"I must say openly and directly that our generals deceived our president and slipped him a plan under which a programme for a contract-based army won't be submitted until 2004," Nemtsov said at a press conference in Novosibirsk on Friday [23 November].
"A programme that is to run through 2010 won't be implemented because Putin will no longer be president in 2010," he said. Already in 2006, "there will be no army at all" in Russia due to an unfavourable demographic situation.
"Russian generals are aware of this. They are conscientiously leading the situation to a deadlock by turning the Russian Armed Forces into something similar to the Roman army between the third and fourth centuries when youths were branded to prevent their desertion. The generals' position is extremely irresponsible. Therefore, we will insist on the swift introduction of amendments prepared by the Union of Right Forces," he said.
Draftees' service should not exceed six months and a contract must be concluded in case of its extension, he said.
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