MOSCOW. July 23 (Interfax-AVN) - The Russian Defense Ministry believes that laws partially limiting the rights of women serving in the Russian armed forces should be passed, a source in the Defense Ministry told Interfax-Military News Agency on Wednesday.
"Women concluding their first contract with the army must not have children. They must also commit themselves not to have children during the period covered by the contract," he said.
"Moreover, the rights and liberties of women with children under three years of age, applied to women serving in the armed forces, must be reconsidered and made applicable to women serving in the army who have children aged under 18 months."
He said the Defense Ministry has studied the experience of countries with contract military service, including the U.S., France and Britain. In these countries, the rights of servicepersons concluding their first contract do not differ depending on their sex, and servicewomen are not allowed to get married or have children.
"The Russian army is facing a situation when servicemen have to perform a part of duties that are organic of the positions held by servicewomen who cannot perform them partially or in full due to various reasons. The main reason is child care. At the same time, servicewomen enjoy all the benefits and guarantees fixed by federal laws," the source said.
Servicewomen hold 1.2 percent of officer positions, 19.8 percent of warrant officer positions, and about 46 percent of positions of professional privates, sailors, sergeants and top sergeants.
Materials on the issue have been submitted to the State Duma lower house of parliament, the source added.