MOSCOW, 2 January 2004 — Russia’s ties with the Islamic world have improved as a result of President Vladimir Putin’s decision to apply for Russian membership of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), a top official said yesterday.
The initiative “drew a positive response in Muslim nations... Russia and the Muslim world are moving toward each other,” Veniamin Popov, Russia’s envoy for relations with the OIC, was quoted as saying by Interfax news agency. During a visit to an OIC summit in Malaysia last August, Putin voiced Russia’s intention to step up contacts with the OIC and join the organization, initially with observer status.
Roughly one in seven of Russia’s 144 million inhabitants are of Islamic background. Popov gave as examples of improved Russian-Islamic relations an “improved understanding” of Moscow’s policy in the predominantly Muslim northern Caucasus, where it is waging an anti-insurgency campaign against Chechen separatists.
“It is important that the OIC sent observers to Chechen presidential election in October 2003,” he said, referring to a poll widely regarded as rigged in favor of the Kremlin-backed candidate Akhmad Kadyrov.
In another development, conscientious objectors in Russia from yesterday gained the right to carry out alternative, non-military service, but only a few thousand a year were expected to sign up for the scheme, officials said.
A new law on civil service, criticized for forcing young men who want to keep out of the army to serve for up to three and a half years compared to two years for regular conscripts, came into force on Jan. 1, Itar-Tass said.
“Already from February to March, they can send a request to the draft boards for the right to alternative service,” Gen. Viktor Kozhushko, a senior official from the general staff’s mobilization department, told the news agency. Those who qualify as conscientious objectors will be able to do social work, such as in hospitals and orphanages, but they will be required to serve outside their home region and for three and a half years.
They can serve six months less — three years — if they agree to do civilian duties on a military base. As little as 3,000 people a year are expected to take up the option, which involves filing an application six months ahead of call-up, according to the general staff.
Alternative service has been hailed as a symbolic step in reforming Russia’s unpopular and often brutal conscription system, although liberals say that the form of service set out in the bill is little better than serving in the ranks. Those with higher education need only serve half the time — 21 months in social work or 18 months in non-military army duties.
