MANY RUSSIAN DRAFTEES ARE TOO THIN OR HAVE CRIMINAL BACKGROUNDS.

Thirty percent of the 5,000 draftees who arrived in the Trans-VolgaMilitary District are underweight and almost 25 percent of thetotal have criminal records, Saratovskiye vesti reportedJuly 14. Because of both their poor physical condition and theprevalence of criminals, many draftees now have to pay protectionmoney to other soldiers to keep from being brutalized in the barracks.

Government Seen Failing to Stem Rising Tide of Social Problems.