CONTROL OF MILITARY–A PRIORITY ON WOMEN LEGISLATORS’ AGENDA.

"Our paramount legislative task for 1996 will be to have the Constitution amended so that the Duma has the right to hire and fire the force ministers," Women of Russia faction leader Yekaterina Lakhova has announced. "We want to protect the country from ministers like Pavel Grachev." (11)

Lakhova’s statement is directed at the fact that the State Duma now has virtually no control over the country’s military leadership and forces. Genuine military reform is generally thought to require greater separation of powers between the president and the legislature in implementing civilian control of the military.

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