MEMBER OF RUSSIAN GENERAL STAFF COMMENTS ON ALTERNATIVE SERVICE.

On the eve of parliamentary discussions on a bill for alternative military service, a Russian General Staff chief said that such a law should specify that alternative service falls under the purview of federal — rather than regional — authorities, and that it must be extraterritorial in design (meaning that those choosing alternative service can be sent to any part of Russia deemed necessary by federal authorities). Alternative service should be discharged at enterprises and institutions of the Defense and Interior Ministries, the Federal Border Guard Service, the Ministry for Emergencies, the Ministry for Nuclear Power Engineering, and the Russian railroad troops, he said. He noted that such service should be of 2 years duration for those with a higher education and 4 years for those without. (Itar-Tass, April 15) Such conditions, particularly that of extraterritoriality and a term of service that, for most draftees, would be twice the term of regular military service, appear designed to make alternative service as unattractive as possible.

Campaign Official Notes Parallels Between Zyuganov and Yeltsin Policies.