MOSCOW. June 28 (Interfax-AVN) - The State Duma passed the Cabinet-proposed Alternative Service Bill in the third and final reading with a 237-109 vote and one abstention on Friday.
Under the bill, Russian citizens have a right to have their compulsory military service replaced by an alternative service if service in armed forces is contrary to their convictions or religion or if they are members of small indigenous ethnic groups. They will serve, as a rule, outside the areas where they reside.
The service will last 3.5 years; for university-educated men it will be 21 months. If the service takes place where military units are stationed, the terms will be reduced to three years and 18 months, respectively.
Citizens will have to prove to the drafting commission their sincerity in wishing to replace military service with alternative service.
Before the vote, the Union of Right-wing Forces and Yabloko parties said that they would unanimously vote against the bill.