EROSION OF RUSSIAN OFFICER CORPS CONTINUES.

The Russian Defense Ministry’s top personnel officer, Col. Gen. Grigory Kasperovich, said on March 28 that roughly one-half of the military officers whose contracts expire in the next two years will not sign up for another tour. He also said that 22 percent of the officer billets and 32 percent of the warrant officer billets in the armed forces are vacant. Replenishing the officer corps is hampered by the fact that nearly 40 percent of the cadets in military schools drop out. (Interfax, March 28)

Recriminations Over Low Turn-Out in Last Week’s Protest Demonstrations.