Charlie Hebdo : Apres Le Choc Et La Mobilisation, L’action

CHARLIE HEBDO : APRES LE CHOC ET LA MOBILISATION, L’ACTION

COMMUNIQUE DE LA FIDH

La FIDH rend hommage aux millions de citoyens qui se sont mobilises
le 11 janvier 2015 a l’occasion de la marche republicaine en France
et dans le monde, en reponse aux attentats contre la redaction de
Charlie Hebdo et la tuerie dans un supermarche Casher. A l’aune des
contre-manifestations reactionnaires organisees dans differents pays
depuis la publication du dernier numero de Charlie Hebdo, il importe
d’autant plus d’en mesurer la portee et d’en tirer des consequences.

Des marches pour la liberte d’expression, contre l’antisemitisme et
toutes les formes de racisme et, contre les tueries : ce sont les
principes democratiques que les manifestants ont porte au plus haut
le 11 janvier.

Eviter que ces mobilisations ne retombent est l’affaire de
tous. La traduire en actes est la responsabilite en premier lieu
des gouvernants.

En France, la Ligue des droits de l’Homme a evoque l’ampleur des
chantiers necessaires pour combler la fracture republicaine (cf
communique commun LDH, Licra, SOS Racisme et Mrap, “Pour une Republique
effective”, 9 janvier 2015). Nous le soulignons avec elle et les
ONG du monde entier qui se sont manifestees depuis les attentats :
la portee internationale de l’enjeu ne saurait etre sous-estimee.

La defense de la liberte d’expression n’a pas recu le soutien
international necessaire.

On ne le rappellera jamais assez, cette liberte >
(cf Cour europeenne des droits de l’Homme, Affaire Handyside, 1976]).

Le droit international fixe precisement des limites a la liberte
d’expression. Cette liberte ne comprend pas l’incitation a la
perpetration ni l’apologie de genocide et de crimes contre l’humanite,
ou encore l’incitation a la haine ou a la discrimination raciale,
ethnique ou religieuse.

Il fixe encore des restrictions a la liberte, en particulier pour
proteger les droits et la reputation d’autrui contre l’injure ou
la diffamation contre personnes denommees – et contre personnes
denommees seulement, une religion ou une conviction relevant de la
sphère privee, subjective.

Toujours selon le droit international, ces restrictions ne sont
admissibles qu’en vertu de lois nationales qui lui soient conformes
dans une societe democratique, et dans des conditions très strictes
(necessite, proportionnalite) dont l’appreciation doit relever au
cas par cas, de la competence du juge.

Ainsi la liberte d’expression ne s’oppose pas a la liberte de religion
ou de conviction, elle en constitue au contraire l’indispensable
complement, garantissant au pluralisme des opinions, croyances et
convictions, la liberte de leur expression.

Ces principes ont ete reaffirmes et precises a la suite de la
controverse internationale nee de la publication de caricatures du
prophète Mahomet dans des journaux danois. Les Nations unies ont
organise une serie de consultations entre experts de toutes les
regions, pour identifier et preciser l’etendue des restrictions
acceptees par le droit international relatif a la liberte
d’expression. Une declaration et un plan d’action ont ete adoptes au
terme de ces consultations, a Rabat en fevrier 2013, qui reconnaît
notamment que >

Le Comite des droits de l’Homme des Nations unies l’avait egalement
reconnu : > (Commentaire general 34 sur l’article 19 relatif aux
libertes d’opinion et d’expression du Pacte international relatif
aux droits civils et politiques, adopte en juillet 2011]).

En depit de ces principes, les lois nationales sont
devoyees pour devenir, plutôt qu’une protection des
libertes, l’instrument de leur violation. C’est le cas en
particulier des lois penalisant le blasphème, presentes
encore dans plus de cinquante pays de par le monde (cf
).

Beaucoup d’Etats ou de forces politiques ou religieuses opposes a
la liberte d’expression, notamment par la caricature ou la derision,
justifient plus largement les violations de cette liberte pour asseoir
leur pouvoir ou leur influence.

Les premières victimes en sont les voix independantes de par le monde,
a l’instar, en Arabie Saoudite, de Raif Badawi blogueur qui defend
une vision plus liberale de l’islam et des reformes necessaire dans
son pays. Il a ete condamne pour cela a mille coups de fouets pour
“insulte a l’islam”, 10 annees de prison, 10 annees supplementaires
d’interdiction de quitter son pays et 20 000 euros d’amende.

Les defenseurs des droits humains qui prennent la defense de ces
personnes accusees arbitrairement risquent leur vie. Membre de la
Commission pakistanaise pour les droits de l’Homme, Rashid Rehman a ete
assassine le 8 mai 2014 au Pakistan. Il etait l’avocat d’une personne
accusee de blasphème. Il avait recu des menaces de mort alors qu’il
plaidait devant un juge, les autorites pakistanaises ont refuse de
lui accorder une quelconque protection.

On pense encore a Aminatou Mint El Moctar, responsable de l’association
des femmes chefs de famille en Mauritanie visee en 2014 par une fatwa
pour sa defense de personnes poursuivies pour apostasie ou harcelees
par des groupes islamistes radicaux.

Au Vietnam, Bui Thi Minh Hang, Nguyen Van Minh et Nguyen Thi Thuy
Quynh, ont ete condamnes pour trouble a l’ordre public a plusieurs
annees d’emprisonnement au Vietnam en decembre 2014, pour avoir
defendu la liberte de religion et de conviction.

Dans quatre-vingts pays environ, le seul fait d’informer sur les
violations des droits humains universels, a fortiori d’agir pour
qu’il y soit mis fin, est synonyme de risque majeur (cf les derniers
rapports annuels de l’Observatoire pour la protection des defenseurs
des droits humains ). Risque de procedure
fallacieuse et de detention arbitraire, de condamnation inique,
de torture et de traitement cruel, inhumain ou degradant, risque
pour les ONG et les medias independants d’assassinat, de suspension,
de dissolution, risque de designation a la vindicte populaire comme
traitre, apostat, terroriste, separatiste, extremiste.

Il est desormais urgent et necessaire d’interpeller les Etats pour
les rappeler a leurs obligations au regard du droit international des
droits humains. A cet egard, nous deplorons le fait qu’en tete de la
marche parisienne, une vingtaine de representants de gouvernements
oppresseurs de la liberte de conscience se sont precipites a Paris pour
proclamer leur condamnation du terrorisme, sans se voir rappeler que
la garantie des libertes en constitue la condition. Ils sont alors
rentres de Paris encourages dans leurs pratiques liberticides.

Depuis, plusieurs manifestations ont pris part de par le monde, pour
protester contre le soutien apporte au journal satyrique francais. Si
le droit de manifester pacifiquement son opinion religieuse est
inalienable, nous devons denoncer les attaques intervenues a cette
occasion contre les chretiens au Niger, ou ailleurs, contre des
representants des minorites. Celles-ci sont inadmissibles. D’autres,
a l’instar de celle du 19 janvier organisee a Grozny par Ramazan
Kadyrov, ne laissent personne dupe sur leur organisation de toute
pièce par le pouvoir en place, qui ne cesse d’instrumentaliser le
religieux a des fins politiques.

Au dela des manifestations et des declarations, nous attendons des
dirigeants une mobilisation internationale sans precedent, une defense
opiniâtre des citoyens reprimes au pretexte de leur defense de la
liberte d’expression, et de la liberte de religion ou de conviction.

Il faudrait aussi mesurer combien l’echec des politiques soi-disant
antiterroristes developpees depuis le 11 septembre 2001 a pese dans
l’essor spectaculaire de mouvements ideologiques fondes sur la terreur.

Les images de Guantanamo et d’Abu Graïb n’ont pas seulement servi de
catalyseur aux energies terroristes, elles les ont galvanisees dans
leur macabre entreprise jusque dans la terrible mise en scène des
executions d’otages de Daech.

Quant a la legitimation publique de l’usage de la torture par les
dirigeants de >, les pratiques de detention arbitraire
et de torture dans des centres secrets, de remise extraordinaire
dans des vols fantômes, d’execution sommaire par drône interpose,
d’interception massive de donnees personnelles, d’impunite absolue
pour les decideurs de ces pratiques, comment imaginer qu’elles
ne nourrissent pas l’argumentaire des recruteurs terroristes,
l’attractivite de leur entreprise mortifère et la banalisation des
violations des droits humains ?

Le bilan lucide doit aussi etre entrepris de l’echec patent de
l’invasion puis de l’occupation de l’Irak a partir de 2003, comme de
l’echec dramatique a empecher depuis bientôt quatre ans la tragedie
syrienne, et a favoriser une solution juste et durable au conflit
israëlo-palestinien. La perception mondialisee d’une injustice
recurrente sur fond de colonisation permanente des Territoires
palestiniens n’a pas seulement alimente la critique justifiee du
“deux poids – deux mesures”. Elle a permis son instrumentalisation
jusque dans le recrutement des filières jihadistes. Il est aussi
de la responsabilite des gouvernants de le reconnaître et, surtout,
de trouver les moyens d’y remedier.

La democratie requiert une exigence permanente dont les gouvernants
sont debiteurs a l’egard de leurs concitoyens pour garantir la
realisation des droits et l’effectivite des libertes, y compris du
droit a la securite, surtout dans les moments les plus difficiles
(voir a cet egard le rapport de la FIDH

http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/sites/default/files/Compendium-Blasphemy-Laws.pdf
https://wearenotafraid.org/fr/

Pepsi And Coca-Cola Bottlers Companies In Armenia Allowed To Continu

PEPSI AND COCA-COLA BOTTLERS COMPANIES IN ARMENIA ALLOWED TO CONTINUE IMPORTS OF WHITE SUGAR AT PREFERENTIAL CUSTOMS RATES

YEREVAN, January 22. / ARKA /. Pepsi and Coca-Cola Bottlers companies
in Armenia have been allowed by the government today to continue
imports of white sugar from other than Eurasian Economic Union (EEU)
member countries at preferential customs rates for their own needs
for the next three years.

The news was announced by economy minister Karen Chshmarityan during
a Cabinet session.

According to Chshmarityan, under the treaty on accession to the
Eurasian Economic Union, Armenia will continue levying lower import
customs duties on a long list of products for several years, including
white sugar.

The minister explained that both companies are allowed to import no
more than 4,000 metric tons of white sugar and will be paying a 10
percent customs duties over the next three years.

The government has also approved today a decision on imports of raw
sugar at zero customs duties for sugar production. Chshmarityan said
under the EEU accession agreement, Armenia is allowed to import raw
cane sugar at zero customs duties from 2015 to 2025 for processing
in the territory of Armenia.-0-

http://arka.am/en/news/business/pepsi_and_coca_cola_bottlers_companies_in_armenia_allowed_by_continue_imports_of_white_sugar_at_pref/#sthash.f3OrP5SV.dpuf

Armenia’s Economy Minister Fails To Clarify Stance On EBRD Forecast

ARMENIA’S ECONOMY MINISTER FAILS TO CLARIFY STANCE ON EBRD FORECAST

15:04 * 22.01.15

Armenia’s Minister of Economy Karen Chshmarityan has not clarified
his stance on a forecast by the European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development (EBRD).

“We are not dealing with macroeconomic forecasts,” he said.

The EBRD forecasts 0% economic growth in Armenia for this year.

The ministry is now dealing with problems of industrial enterprises,
exports and influence on international markets.

“We have to employ all the instruments for our companies to increase
their output this year,” Mr Chshmarityan said.

In response to a remark that all the ratings show fewer loans to
Armenia, the minister said:

“Different organizations have different methods of assessment. But
our studies show that work with real sector and their aid show a
different picture.”

http://www.tert.am/en/news/2015/01/22/chshmaritian/1566847

As Hepatitis C Detected At Kajaran Medial Center, All Hospitals In A

AS HEPATITIS C DETECTED AT KAJARAN MEDIAL CENTER, ALL HOSPITALS IN ARMENIA WILL UNDERGO STRICT CONTROL

by Karina Manukyan

Thursday, January 22, 11:53

Health Ministry of Armenia has convened, Wednesday, after cases of
Hepatitis C were detected at the Kajaran Medical Center lately.

According to the ministry, Minister Armen Muradyan charged Artavazd
Vatyan, the head of the National Center for Control and Prevention
of Diseases, to organize inspections and examinations at all the
hospitals in the country within 20 days. Similar inspections will
be conducted also at dental clinics, policlinics and laboratories
throughout the country.

It is noteworthy that Hepatitis C was detected among 8 patients
after they underwent surgery at the Karajaran Medical Center. The
Investigation Committee has initiated a criminal case on the fact. The
surgeries have been closed.

http://www.arminfo.am/index.cfm?objectid=1E3B35C0-A214-11E4-B7C90EB7C0D21663

Gumri : Rassemblement Devant Le Monument Du Reverend Père Komitas A

GUMRI : RASSEMBLEMENT DEVANT LE MONUMENT DU REVEREND PÈRE KOMITAS A PARIS

COMMUNIQUE PAR RENAISSANCE ARMENIENNE

Rassemblement devant le monument du Reverend Père Komitas en hommage
aux armeniens de Gumri.

Le dimanche 18 janvier, l’eglise armenienne de Paris a celebre
une messe de requiem pour les 6 membres de la famille Avetisyan,
sauvagement assassines, parait-il, par un soldat russe. A l’appel
du mouvement Renaissance Armenienne de Paris, une grande partie des
fidèles presents a l’eglise et les sympathisants du mouvement se sont
rassembles devant la statue de Komitas.

Après avoir depose leurs cierges, les presents ont entonne la prière > sous la direction de la chorale de l’eglise.

Puis, devant une centaine de personnes, le porte parole du mouvement
Renaissance Armenienne de Paris, Schanth Vosgueritchian a pris la
parole pour >.

Il a en outre exhorte le pouvoir en Armenie

Tbilisi: Russian Media: Armenia Wants 450 Churches In Georgia

RUSSIAN MEDIA: ARMENIA WANTS 450 CHURCHES IN GEORGIA

The Messenger, Georgia
Jan 21 2015

By Tea Mariamidze
Tuesday, January 20
According to the Russian source Vetotnikavkaza.net, Armenia has
applied to UNESCO to recognize hundreds of churches located in Georgia
as Armenian.

The agency wrote that Paud Akhundov, a representative of the
Azerbaijani President’s Administration, said “caprices” of the
Armenian side were a result of many-centuries “falsification” by
Armenian historians.

Meanwhile, the move was assessed in Tbilisi too. Georgian officials
believed UNESCO was the body to give recommendations on how to preserve
a historical building, but it was not able to decide whom the building
belonged to.

Georgia’s Minister of Culture Mikheil Giorgadze stated that even
Georgia’s ministry of culture could not decide the fate of the
religious monuments.

“It’s not a Culture Ministry’s competence to decide religious
belonging. We see all of these churches as historical monuments and
we take care of them regardless to which religion they belong to,”
Giorgadze said.

Nikoloz Antidze, head of Georgia’s National Agency for Cultural
Heritage Preservation said that he had some information concerning
the issue.

“We have some information about the issue, but UNESCO is not a court
that is eligible to solve cultural ownership issues. Large-scale
research needs to be conducted,” Antidze said.

http://www.messenger.com.ge/issues/3290_january_20_2015/3290_tea.html

Angela Merkel: "The Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict, As Well As Other Conf

ANGELA MERKEL: “THE NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT, AS WELL AS OTHER CONFLICTS IN THE REGION, SHALL BE RESOLVED PEACEFULLY”

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Jan 21 2015

21 January 2015 – 8:53pm

Angela Merkel: “The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, as well as other
conflicts in the region, shall be resolved peacefully” Orhan Sattar,
director of the European Bureau of Vestnik Kavkaza At this moment a
meeting in Berlin between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and President
Ilham Aliyev is taking place. The parties discussed bilateral relations
issues, energy policy and the situations in Ukraine and the Caucasus.

In her speech, the Chancellor said: “I am glad that the President
of Azerbaijan is today in Berlin. The last time we met here was five
years ago. For us, Azerbaijan is a partner with a growing importance.

Azerbaijan’s economy shows very dynamic growth, and there are two
reasons why this country is important for us. Firstly, because of its
oil and gas reserves. Secondly, Azerbaijan may become our partner in
the diversification of our own economy with the help of German and
other European companies.”

According to Merkel, “the German government actively supports the
project of the Southern Gas Corridor, and this is what we discussed
today. We also discussed bilateral topics important to both of us;
in particular, the human rights situation in Azerbaijan played a
role here.”

“We also had a discussion about the geopolitical situation of
Azerbaijan. We have discussed the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the
resolution of which Germany would like to contribute to. Perhaps the
European Union could have acted here with its own initiative, and I
think Azerbaijan will discuss this with the European Commission. We
also discussed the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, as well as
the binding of Azerbaijan to the EU’s Eastern Partnership program. As
far as I understand, Azerbaijan calls for good cooperation with the
EU, while not having the goal of membership in the European Union. I
would like to emphasize once again that this very approach was the
starting point of the Eastern Partnership program. This year, under
the Lithuanian presidency of the EU,the next summit of the Eastern
Partnership will take place, the Chancellor said.

Orhan Sattar, director of the European Bureau of Vestnik Kavkaza

At this moment a meeting in Berlin between German Chancellor Angela
Merkel and President Ilham Aliyev is taking place. The parties
discussed bilateral relations issues, energy policy and the situations
in Ukraine and the Caucasus.

In her speech, the Chancellor said: “I am glad that the President
of Azerbaijan is today in Berlin. The last time we met here was five
years ago. For us, Azerbaijan is a partner with a growing importance.

Azerbaijan’s economy shows very dynamic growth, and there are two
reasons why this country is important for us. Firstly, because of its
oil and gas reserves. Secondly, Azerbaijan may become our partner in
the diversification of our own economy with the help of German and
other European companies.”

According to Merkel, “the German government actively supports the
project of the Southern Gas Corridor, and this is what we discussed
today. We also discussed bilateral topics important to both of us;
in particular, the human rights situation in Azerbaijan played a
role here.”

“We also had a discussion about the geopolitical situation of
Azerbaijan. We have discussed the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the
resolution of which Germany would like to contribute to. Perhaps the
European Union could have acted here with its own initiative, and I
think Azerbaijan will discuss this with the European Commission. We
also discussed the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, as well as
the binding of Azerbaijan to the EU’s Eastern Partnership program. As
far as I understand, Azerbaijan calls for good cooperation with the
EU, while not having the goal of membership in the European Union. I
would like to emphasize once again that this very approach was the
starting point of the Eastern Partnership program. This year, under
the Lithuanian presidency of the EU,the next summit of the Eastern
Partnership will take place, the Chancellor said.

Armenia Still Seeking Ties With EU Despite Joining Eurasian Union

ARMENIA STILL SEEKING TIES WITH EU DESPITE JOINING EURASIAN UNION

Deutsche Presse-Agentur, Germany
January 20, 2015 Tuesday 4:12 PM EST

Brussels

DPA POLITICS Armenia diplomacy EU Armenia still seeking ties with EU
despite joining Eurasian union Brussels Armenia is seeking closer ties
with the European Union, its foreign minister said Tuesday, despite
the country’s membership in the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union.

“We are going to enhance and to develop, to deepen our comprehensive
cooperation and partnership with the EU, taking into due consideration
our commitments in other international integration processes,” Eduard
Nalbandyan said during a visit to Brussels.

At the same time, he declared that “we have very strong allied
strategic relations with Russia and we will continue to strengthen
and enhance our friendly relations with Russia.”

Relations between Moscow and the EU have soured over the crisis in
Ukraine, reaching their lowest point since the end of the Cold War.

Armenia had originally been expected to initial a deal with the EU
on closer political and trade ties in November 2013, after more than
three years of negotiations. But its president then announced that
Armenia would join the Russian union.

The move put the EU in an difficult situation, as officials believe
that a country cannot both join the Eurasian union and enter a free
trade agreement with the bloc.

The EU’s top official for neighbourhood relations said Tuesday that
the agreement negotiated with Armenia will have to be “adjusted,”
but also expressed hope that “the substance of its political part”
can be kept.

“We need still final clarification of some areas,” EU Commissioner
Johannes Hahn said. “I hope we can finalize these remaining elements
in February in order to conclude this joint reflection.”

Latvia, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the 28-country
EU, would then like to see negotiations on a new agreement with
Armenia launched at an Eastern Partnership summit it will host in May.

“That could probably be also a good example [of] how, being a part of
one union, you can still successfully cooperate also with the other
union,” Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics said.

“The EU is not competing with somebody over Armenia or over any other
eastern partner,” he added.

The EU’s Eastern Partnership project includes six former Soviet states
– Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.

The latter three have signed political and trade agreements with
Brussels.

Belarus is another member of the Eurasian union, along with
Kazakhstan. Kyrgyzstan is also expected to join.

Soccer: Lucescu: "Mkhitaryan would be a perfect fit for Juventus"

Vavel
Jan 20 2015

Lucescu: “Mkhitaryan would be a perfect fit for Juventus”

Shakhtar Donetsk coach Mircea Lucescu has encouraged Juventus to
express interest in Borussia Dortmund midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan
rather than Galatasaray star Wesley Sneijder.

The 69-year-old Romanian endured spells in Italy with Pisa, Brescia,
Reggiana and Inter throughout the 1990’s. Lucescu has been at Shakthar
since 2004, winning the Ukrainian League eight times and the Ukranian
Cup four times, his seemingly greatest achievement was winning the
UEFA Cup in 2008-09.

“It was hard to see him leave Shakhtar for Dortmund, but we still have
a great relationship,” Lucescu told Tuttosport.

“It would not surprise me if he were to join Juventus. He is a guy who
needs to feel affection and there’s too much pressure on him at
Dortmund. I think his cycle at Dortmund is over.

“He would be great behind Fernando Llorente and Carlos Tevez.

“Mkhitaryan is much quicker and runs more than Sneijder. He is a
complete player. He creates chances, wins back balls and always keeps
on going. It is important for him to find the right environment
again.”

The Armenian who signed in 2013 still has two more years remaining on
his contract with Dortmund.

http://www.vavel.com/en/international-football/germany-bundesliga/439726-lucescu-mkhitaryan-would-be-a-perfect-fit-for-juventus.html

The [Russian] army is exposed to critique again

WPS Agency, Russia
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
January 19, 2015 Monday

The army is exposed to critique again

Society is unhappy with chic of generals and secrecy of statistical
data on deaths, accidents and crimes of servicemen

WPS observer

After the shock related to cruel murder of an Armenian family by a
Russian serviceman of the 102nd military base in Gyumri experts and
human rights activists try to analyze reasons of the tragedy.
Unfortunately, general systemic problems related to crime in the
troops are revealed at this point. Neither the Defense Ministry, nor
the Main Military Prosecutor’s Office has provided precise statistical
data on this crime to the society in open access for a long time.
Along with this, judging by publications of mass media and information
of human rights activists, situation remains complicated, unauthorized
relations, beating, murders and suicides happen in the Armed forces
still and we almost do not see any work of commanders on prevention of
these accidents.

WPS turned to some members of the public council of the Defense
Ministry for comments on this. These are people who have access to
information about the situation in the Russian army. Their comments
turned out to be very critique-oriented but also very important. One
of the members of the public council of the Defense Ministry willing
to remain anonymous reported that “Tragedy in Gyumri happened because
top-ranking officials of the Defense Ministry reduced control over the
system of selection of personnel for Russian military bases stationed
abroad. Russia does not have very many such objects and it is quite
possible to select the best of the best for them.” The expert pointed
out that in the past it was planned to start manning our military
bases abroad with contract servicemen alone but this did not happen
yet. It turns out that conscript soldiers who are sent there are not
of the highest quality. The expert said, “Brother of the soldier who
killed the Armenian family had a criminal conviction for murder. It
turned out that Permyakov had breaches of discipline. And such person
was put on sentinel duty to fulfill a combat task. This is an obvious
mistake of not only command of the base. At this point we see general
systemic mistakes related to general control over troops. Some
officials of the Defense Ministry should be taken to account for
this.”

Valentina Melnikova, responsible secretary of the soldiers’ mothers
committee and member of the public council of the Defense Ministry,
commented on the situation, “No matter what officials of the Defense
Ministry say about maintenance of proper order and military discipline
in the army, unfortunately, we in soldiers’ mothers organizations
encounter growth of the quantity of complaints from parents of
conscript servicemen starting since 2013 about hooliganism in the
barracks, extortion on the part of commanders, breaches during the
draft etc. We have reported about these facts to top-ranking officials
of the Defense Ministry and to the Main Military Prosecutor’s Office
frequently. However, we do not see proper reaction to these reports.”
Melnikova was concerned about the fact that at its meetings the public
council of the Defense Ministry never discussed issues of order
enforcement and combating of hazing in the troops in detail. She
stated, “It turns out as if there are no such problems at all but this
is not so. Mothers of soldiers from whom commanders take money and
telephones and whom they beat phone me permanently. Such situation
prospers especially at our military bases abroad where conscript
servicemen receive increased salaries. Soldiers are robbed but it is
very difficult to somehow help them there and we sometimes encounter
cold indifference in the troops.” According to Melnikova, there is no
efficient civil control over the army still.

Alexander Kanshin, chair of the council of the national association of
union of officers of the reserve of the Armed Forces (MEGAPIR) and
deputy chair of the public council of the Defense Ministry, has a
similar opinion. He says that the problem of civil control over
activity of the Defense Ministry “remains very important still.”
However, he associates the problems that appear in this area with
activity or, to be more accurate, mistakes of the Main Military
Prosecutor’s Office. In a recent interview to Interfax-AVN Kanshin
announced that “In the last few years, the Main Military Prosecutor’s
Office started interacting with civil society, Public Chamber and
public council of the Defense Ministry weakly. We do not have the
contact now that we have had before. That is why we do not have
official information about deaths of people, about notorious hazing in
the troops, about outrageous actions of officers that are,
unfortunately, not rare yet.” Along with this, we can say that Defense
Ministry could provide such information too.

Meanwhile, Kanshin is also worried by the fact that somehow the Main
Military Prosecutor’s Office hushes down statistical data related to
theft of state money among generals now. Meanwhile, this is a
competence of military prosecutors for sure. He said, “I turned to the
Main Military Prosecutor’s Office with a proposal to publish these
data but they answered: this cannot be done because this will hit
prestige of the army. I absolutely disagree with such formulation of
the matter. Absence of objective information about crimes including
non-combatant losses hits the prestige of the army more seriously. I
am convinced that secrecy and departure from publicity is the first
steps towards neglecting of these problems. Meanwhile, it is necessary
to reveal them on the contrary. It is necessary to respond about every
death and every loss.”

Kanshin also characterized the current morale of generals,
“Unfortunately, the level of general culture in the troops decreased
enormously in the last few years. Even senior officers, generals and
commanders often speak harshly to the subordinates and humiliate
them.” He points at such negative phenomenon as “commercialization of
military service and wish of some officers, including top-ranking
ones, “to profiteer” from sale of real estate and from notorious
“kickback.” Kanshin points out, “I tell even commanders of high rank
at meetings: your service is according to another price list. Why do
you built mansions and palaces and buy yachts and jeeps, be more
modest if you have put shoulder straps on. You have a different system
of values. But not everyone understands this. you see a military
commander who builds a three-storied house on unknown revenues in one
place and you see a commander who buys something not in accordance
with his salary in another place and you see a commander who
celebrates his birthday so pompously that not very oligarch can afford
this somewhere else. Unfortunately, there is this infection among
officers.”

Such frank opinions of military experts will hardly be liked by
top-ranking officials of the Defense Ministry and Main Military
Prosecutor’s Office. It is also unknown which conclusions will be
drawn from this. In any case, one thing is already clear that along
with achievements in military development a certain rotting is also
inherent to our Armed Forces and generals and certain closeness of the
army from the society originates from this. But such closeness will
hardly save it from emergency situations and crime if no serious
measures are taken for solving of these problems.

On the eve of 2015, the Defense Ministry published a booklet entitled
“Army in figures.” On more than 200 pages the ministry published
statistical data on activity, achievements of the army etc. It seems
to be impressive. However, only two phrases are dedicated to the
problems of crime in the Armed Forces there, “The Armed Forces have
been and remain one of the most law-abiding institutions of the state.
The level of crime in the troops is 54.55% lower than in the country
as a whole.”

[Translated from Russian]