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TORTURE IN THE RUSSIAN ARMY - THE BATTLE OF THE MOTHERS

In Russia the military service is compulsory lasting two years with a yearly quota of 300 000 draftees. Corruption existing at all levels facilitating well to do offsprings to circumvent this obligation. In order to fill the quota of draftees a type of 'wild west' chase is effectuated by the militia chasing potential draftees in the underground, on the streets even in universities. For all these young men military service is a nightmare that we can't imagine in today's democratic armys.

An estimated 3 000 draftees perish yearly within the military compounds – and out of action. Some draftees are beaten close to death by their commanding officers who remain unpunished, others are sold as forced labour – reminiscant of the slave trade. This situation incites draftees to internal violence – weaker ones subcoming to their stronger peers. These morally contemptible surroundings, inhanced by the Chechen war, incites a large number of deserters.

During the last couple of years an association has been established in order to assist and rescue some of these victims and to put an end to the existing system.

The co-founder of the organization SOLDIERS MOTHERS OF SAINT-PETERSBURG Madame Ella Poliakova together with volunteers aim to denounce and expose these atrocities, to inform the families and to assist the deserters who would otherwise risk being found, judged and sent to correctional battalions.

Mothers of disappeared sons have only this organization to turn to for assistance to find them - dead or alive.

Report prepared in Saint-Petersburg in 2006 and 2007.

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