| Article 59, paragraph
three, of the Russian Constitution makes it clear that if military
service is contrary to a citizen's beliefs,
he can opt for alternative, civil
service. But ever since the Constitution was adopted in 1993, this
right has existed more in theory than in
practice. The Mayor of Nizhny Novgorod, Yury Lebedev, set
up a system at the start of last year whereby would-be
conscripts could work as orderlies
in local hospitals. After just a few months, federal authorities
- under pressure from the army - stopped the scheme. The law, which
was passed over a year ago, but which comes into effect only on
the first of January two thousand and four, will
do little to convince Russians that performing alternative
service will be preferable to simply dodging
the draft into the army. Instead of two years military service,
civil service will last for three and a half years. Instead of being
allowed to serve close to home, alternative service will be carried
out far away, and possibly on a military base. Such civil conscripts
could well be subjected to the kind
of bullying which may have helped
persuade them to avoid the army in the first place. |
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contrary to a citizen's beliefs:
differently to what a person strongly believes to be right
opt for: choose
more in theory than in practice:
more as an idea than as something that actually happens
would-be: potential, possible
conscripts: people who are legally
obliged to join the army
orderlies: junior assistants (usually
in hospitals)
will do little to: will not help to
dodging the draft: avoiding military
service
be subjected to: have to endure,
experience
bullying: hurting and intimidating
people
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