MOSCOW. April 9 (Interfax-AVN) - From 3,000 to 20,000 eligible young men can be sent for alternative civil service in 2004, a competent source in the Russian Defense Ministry told Interfax-Military News Agency on Wednesday.
"The law "Concerning Alternative Civil Service" comes into force on January 1. The Defense Ministry forecasts that it will not trigger a dramatic increase in the number of eligible persons willing to replace military service with alternative civil service. According to experts, their number may vary from 3,000 to 20,000," the source said.
Over 175,000 persons are to be recruited to the Armed Forces in 2003.
"The bulk of eligible persons is likely to opt for two years in the army. Under the current legislation, the term of alternative civil service amounts to 3.5 years," the source said.
Russian citizens have the right to replace military service with alternative civil service in case the military service runs contrary to their convictions or religion, or in case they belong to a minor ethnic group, lead a traditional existence, or are engaged in traditional industries. The law provides for doing alternative civil service mostly outside the person's home region. A man eligible for military service must declare his wish to go for alternative civil service six months before the draft begins. He can be sent for alternative civil service to the organizations reporting to law-enforcement agencies, including as a civilian worker of law-enforcement agencies.
According to Defense Ministry experts, 66.8 percent of conscripts drafted this year will be sent for service to the Armed Forces, 13.7 percent will serve in the Interior Ministry troops, 13 percent to the Federal Security Service (including the border guard troops), 3.3 percent to the Railway Troops, and 1.1 percent to the Emergencies Ministry.
Moreover, a small number of conscripts will serve with the Federal Body Guard Service, Special Construction Service, Foreign Intelligence Service and other federal agencies.