MOSCOW. July 23 (Interfax-AVN) - The General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces estimates that up to 5,000 young men will be in the alternative service in autumn 2004.
"From 3,000 to 5,000 persons may be sent to alternative civil service in autumn next year," Major General Viktor Kozhushko, senior official from the mobilization department of the General Staff, told reporters in Moscow on Wednesday.
He said the federal law on alternative civil service will come into force on January 1, 2004, after which conscripts will be able to apply for such service.
"The application must be filed at least half a year before the draft. Consequently, the first men in civil service will get down to their duties in autumn next year," Kozhushko said.
He said the Labor Ministry will organize the civil service, while the Defense Ministry will keep tabs on the people willing to perform it at civilian institutions, as well as institutions subordinate to law enforcement agencies.
"According to the Labor Ministry, there are about half a million civilian positions that young men from the civil service could occupy," Kozhushko said.
He said vacancies at medical institutions, the weather forecasting service and others could be in question.
"In any case, individuals will be sent for alternative civil service only to regular vacancies. No additional jobs will be opened for them," the general said.