Chechnya must provide 30,000 conscripts for the Russian army
By Ruslan Isayev
CHECHNYA - This year a full draft into the Russian Army will be declared in Chechnya, that will be the same as in other regions of Russia. In all, the republic must guarantee the call-up of 30,000 conscripts, a source in the republic’s Central Commissariat told PW’s correspondent.
It is unlikely such a large number of recruits can be drafted. “The real figure for Chechnya will be 15,000,” the source said.
The authorities are in no hurry to widely advertise this since it is very bad news for the parents of potential draftees. The fact is that Chechens are neither morally nor physically prepared (about 40 percent of young men of draft age in Chechnya are the only breadwinners in the family) to let their children serve in the army in a different Russian region for two years.
Four years ago the Chechen authorities attempted to revive the practice of conscription into military units located in other regions of Russia. Subsequently, two conscripts from Chechnya’s Nadterechny district, which is supposedly loyal to Russia, were maimed when serving in the Saratov region, and another young men from the same district, who served in the Voronezh region, died from beatings inflicted by other soldiers.
The full army call-up is really an attempt to put the final touch to Chechnya’s virtual return to the bosom of Russia. Many Chechen political analysts consider it more likely to be a political move rather than one dictated by necessity. They assume that in exchange for the many concessions it has made to Chechen authorities, the Federal centre is now able to demand more and more from the republic. It is a kind of test for a pacified Chechnya with the object of securing its complete loyalty to Moscow. As the official line stresses, it is time for Chechnya to prove by some real actions the slogans proclaimed by the Chechen authorities about their devotion to Russia.
As for the Chechen residents themselves, they are willing to let their children serve in the army, but on condition that it is done under contract and within the republic. Many residents are seriously concerned that in the event of a poor response to the draft, the local military registration and enlistment offices [voyenkomaty] may introduce the practice of nocturnal visits by police officials with the aim of sending young men off to the army.
Translated by David McDuff.(A/MD,T,E) RELATED ARTICLES:
· Chechen youths are being called up to the Russian army (PW, 6. 10. 2001)
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