The State Duma proposes to buy off the army. Now - officially. In order not to wear a tunic, you will need to pay a million rubles to the treasury. Vesti FM discussed this initiative with State Duma deputy Maxim Rokhmistrov.
"Vesti FM": Maxim Stanislavovich, hello!
Rokhmistrov: Hello!
"Vesti FM": Explain right away, the bill has already been officially submitted to the State Duma?
Rokhmistrov: Yes, it was introduced. But he must go through the mailing list, get the opinion and feedback from the regions, only after that he will be put to the plenary session. Unfortunately, the laws introduced by the LDPR faction do not get to the chambers very quickly. Therefore, it is rather difficult to predict when it will be considered.
Vesti FM: But this bill has already been discussed at a meeting of the relevant committee?
Rokhmistrov: Not yet.
"Vesti FM": And the date is unknown?
Rokhmistrov: Yes.
Vesti FM: Why did you decide to come up with such an idea?
Rokhmistrov: The point is that today all these various schemes with the use of finance actually work in this country. And unfortunately, the money does not go to the budget of the Ministry of Defense, but ends up in the karmas of people who, let's say, today use this situation for personal purposes. We are categorically against this and believe that one of the ways to combat this, which, by the way, is used by many countries, will be to contribute funds. With this money, it will be possible to recruit people who want to serve in the army and are ready to receive money for this. That is a completely logical situation. As an example, I can tell you how the problem of "thieves" in the United Arab Emirates was solved. There, all numbers that may have a certain alphanumeric phrase are put up for auction. It is impossible to get numbers there - one by one, not one by one. They are put up for auction and sold. And the money does not come, let's say so, in the order of the license plates.
"Vesti FM": But numbers are numbers. And our security directly depends on the army.
Rokhmistrov: This is one of the reasons why we cannot switch to a fully contract army - there is not enough money in the budget. Therefore, we are forced to attract young people to the service. Many people talk about social justice - it also exists. We have a contract service, we have a conscription service, and we have an alternative service, when those who do not want to hold weapons are sent to socially useful work. But we have no liberation. And therefore, today, schemes are widely used when young people, who are just entering life, are forced to commit a criminal offense, bribing doctors, in the military registration and enlistment offices of someone, someone in institutes. That is, we ourselves are expanding the field of corruption. When it will be official - please.
Vesti FM: The General Staff put forward an idea to increase the draft age to 30 years. These initiatives have not yet been adopted, but these conversations are wandering within the walls of the General Staff and, for sure, they are some kind of sign. Will it turn out that your initiative will simply remain populist and with nice words?
Rokhmistrov: No. Why are these conversations going on? Because today we have just such a method - as the people say, "to get away from the army", that is, giving a bribe to anyone - has become widespread. And we don't have enough people to serve in the army. As for the timing, can you imagine what modern technology is today? Well, I understand, you can, of course, teach how to shoot from a machine gun, but you cannot, for example, teach air defense troops, missile troops to work on complex equipment. And we do not have enough money for contract soldiers in the budget. And today huge funds go into the pockets of some officials, who use them to build a dacha for themselves, buy a new car, improve personal well-being, their living conditions, and go abroad to relax. These are huge funds! And, in fact, when we send the same money to the same contract soldiers, we will cover the army's needs for specialists.
