12:00, 27 March 2010

Human rights activist ask to amnesty deserters by Victory Day

The Human Rights Society (HRS) "Memorial" calls to amnesty, by the Victory Day, those militaries, who were convicted for voluntary leaving their military units.

"We start an active campaign towards urging the authorities to include the soldiers who have deserted from their military units into the amnesty stated dated to the 65th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War (WW II)," said Tatiana Bakhmina, a member of the Board of the Scientific Centre of the HRS "Memorial", having added that the idea was supported by the majority of human rights organizations in the regions.

The organization has already prepared an appeal to the State Duma of Russia and plans also to address Russian President, the Radio Liberty reports.

According to Ms Bakhmina, soldiers mainly run away "from intolerable conditions, mockeries and humiliations," the "Interfax" reports.

In Russia, 6 different amnesty law drafts dated to the 65th anniversary of the Great Victory have been prepared. In total, over 330,000 persons can be covered by the amnesty, the "Echo Moskvy" Radio reports.