A Russian soldier greets a babushka
Here at Russia Blog, we have written frequently about the so-called dedovshina (literally "rule of the grandfathers") abuse in the Russian army as one of the most egregious ongoing human rights abuses in Russia. Now it appears the Russian government is very slowly starting to do something about it.
Not only have more torture and abuse cases been prosecuted in recent months (mostly due to public outrage after exposes in the Russian media), but the Defense Ministry is starting to address the root of the problem: namely, bored, impoverished young men who have no desire to be stuck on army bases in the middle of nowhere, trying to survive in brutal condiitions that amount to indentured servitude. Making the Russian army an all-volunteer force, with decent (at least by the standards of Russia's regions) salaries might go a long way in preventing torture and abuse in the ranks before it starts.
Click on the extended post to read the full news story from RIA Novosti and links to previous Russia Blog posts on this topic.
A delegation of Russian soldiers travelling abroad
Contract Soldiers to Fill 45% of Slots in Russia Military by 2008
MOSCOW, March 28, 2007 (RIA Novosti) - About 45% of the soldiers and NCOs in Russia's Armed Forces will be serving on a contract basis by January 1, 2008, a deputy chief of the General Staff said Wednesday.
Col.-Gen. Vasily Smirnov said that at present there were 195,000 contract servicemen in the Russian military.
More than 30 Land Forces units have already been transferred to a contract basis, the commander-in-chief of the Land Forces said.
"These are primarily permanent-readiness units," Army Gen. Alexei Maslov said.
Earlier this month, President Vladimir Putin signed a decree reducing draft service from two years to one, starting in 2008.
Former Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said in January that a large part of the Russian Armed
Forces will still be manned by conscripts in the future, and that only units on constant combat readiness will be fully manned by contract servicemen.
The Defense Ministry said recently that the Armed Forces have been downsized to a current level of 1,134,000 personnel, and that Russia would continue gradual strength reductions to achieve a level of 1,000,000 by 2010.
Click on the links below to read more on this topic, or scroll down through the Human Rights section of Russia Blog (www.russiablog.org/humanrights):
First Verdict in the Case of Private Andrei Sychev
More Russian Army Absurdity
Russian Army Desperately Needs Reform
Genocide or Stupidity?
Russian "Accidents" of the Day
You can also watch the music video of a popular song from the 1990s by the Russian band Ruki Verkh (Hands Up).
Ruki Verkh - "My Baby" (Kroshka Maya)
Руки Верх - "Позови меня"
Comments
It's great news. Most importantly, I think, because it will contribute to the gradual de-militarisation of Russian society as a whole.
I'm convinced that the sheer volume of people in uniform has a (negative) affect on the way Russians view authority, and their own government.
Plus... pimply youths and combat fatigues - not a good look.
Posted by: Andy | March 30, 2007 3:25 PM
The problems of dedovshina result from a non-existant professional NCO corps.
There presently is no interesting career offered to those who would like to enlist on a professional basis and do not want to become officers.
As soon as Russia changes this and installs a professional NCO corps dedovshina is history and Russia's military will become a force of significant value and ability.
Posted by: Heribert Schindler | March 31, 2007 2:11 AM
It is encouraging to know that the government is finally doing something about the abuse of conscripts.
Unfortunately it comes about slowly, at the expense of more young lives lost or ruined.
These young men are the future of Russian society. They will become husbands and fathers. I can’t imagine the trauma of just witnessing something like that, let alone being subjected to such treatment. Death would certainly seem like a saving grace in such circumstances.
I earnestly hope to see Russia switch to having fully contracted armed forces asap.
Posted by: Al Goroh | March 31, 2007 6:29 AM
This will be great if it happens, but I'll believe it when I see it. They have been talking about this for at least 10 years, and decrees were issued with concrete dates in the 1990's also. Perhaps now they have the money and will to make it happen. But who will build the generals' dachas?
Posted by: Lyndon | March 31, 2007 9:54 PM
I've been impressed with the defense reforms. Many 'experts' in both the East and West pooh-poohed the reforms as 'only in name', but it looks like the Kremlin is going for the slow-but- sure method.
Unfortunately, there are still many out there who repeat the old propaganda. A Ukranian mate of mine told me how Russia was spending 'huge amounts of money on the military' and that it would get into a spending war with America again....
True, funding has gone up (regiment of Tu-160 Blackjacks to be created (~20 bombers), new ICBMs etc.), but, the Military Industrial Complex has been broken (unlike in the US).
In return for cash, the MIC has had to accept the Kremlin's demand to unify the airframers (into OAK), will do the same with the helico companies and most factories, forcing them to merge or die from lack of funding.
This will leave the MIC lean and mean, the money going a lot further.
Compare this to Europe who spends much less than the US, but is overburdened with duplication (for example, the French make tanks (LeClerc), the Germans (Lepard), the British (Challenger), the Italians, Swedes etc.
It's a waste. But it is slowly changing.
The Kremlin kicked the MIC when it was down and has taken control.
Even the switch from volunteer to professional forces seems to be doing well.
I wonder though if all the media devoted to the hazing of soldiers has not been used by the Kremlin to thin out the top and middle ranks of the old guard
so it is actually easier to do something and be effective....
Posted by: Aleks | April 1, 2007 5:11 PM
The professionalization and upgrading of military forces and the successes in the Chechenya situation are a positive sign in the changes in the different branches of the military, the all volunteer army is another good step in the right direction, however better conditions on bases and health and alimentation of personnel and better treatment of superiors to subalterns are a must to make the military more attractive to potential newcomers, for example, a possible student or college grant can be a good motivator, as well as technological skills and leadership skills for a job position or even better, a military career.
Nobody wants a fat "paper army", nor is anybody asking for one, after all, a country the size of Russia and its many different issues and volatile and distant borders, unstable neighbors, and interests at stake can't afford to have a "Costa Rican fantasy" mindset, Reality checks: History has always shown that Russians will sooner than later be called to defend the motherland from enemies within and without, once and again, if at least for their own physical survival. a MOTIVATED AND STRONG MILITARY FORCE IS A MUST FOR THE DEFENSE OF RUSSIA, GIVE THEM THEIR DUE SUPPORT!!
Posted by: Juan | April 2, 2007 6:35 PM
Thogh I am not Russian but wan to serve this great nation.I want to be a volunteer in Russian Army
Posted by: Khial | July 1, 2007 1:41 PM