Russia's MoD has no plans to send recruits to Chechnya

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) of the Russian Federation does not plan to send its recruits to Chechnya. This was stated by Colonel Alexei Kuznetsov, head of the department of the press service and information of the Ministry, in his comments on the rumours that newly-drafted soldiers would be sent to the units deployed in Chechnya.

According to his story, it is not required, as the above units comprise only the contracted militaries, the ITAR-TASS reports.

The information that starting 2010 the units of the armed forces of Russia deployed in Chechnya, Dagestan and Ingushetia will comprise not only contracted servicemen but also soldiers and sergeants on mandatory service was disseminated by the "Nezavisimaya Gazeta" with reference to its source at the Joint Staff of Russian Armed Forces.

"Of course, recruits will not be sent to Chechnya or Dagestan right from Military Commissariats; but after they pass their initial army training, their further service in these regions is quite probable," the newspaper source said. According to the paper, such practice is already used in the three motor-rifle brigades deployed in the Chechen Republic.

The source also noted that the quota of contracted soldiers in hot areas of Northern Caucasus will be essentially reduced.

After appearance of this information, the Union of Committees of Soldier's Mothers stated that they had no information about the intention of the MoD to send recruits to Chechnya.

"Recruits take their service in Ingushetia and Dagestan, it's no news, but Chechnya is another story. We should already know about such order. Yesterday I talked to an official from the Interior Troops Command and asked him this question. He assured me that recruits are not sent to Chechnya," Valentine Melnikova, responsible secretary of the above Union, told the "Gazeta.Ru". She added that the "Soldier's Mothers" will trace the situation.

The "Caucasian Knot" reported that back in 2006 the MoD announced that since January 1, 2005, recruits were not sent to Chechnya; and this practice referred to all "hot points". Then, the head of the Russia's MIA Rashid Nurgaliev promised that since January 1, 2007, the interior troops in Northern Caucasus would not have mandatory recruited servicemen; and that only contracted militaries will take their service in Chechnya and other "hot spots".