On the website of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, a draft decree of the President of the Russian Federation "On Amendments to the Regulations on the Procedure for Performing Military Service, approved by Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 1237 of September 16, 1999" has been published. The draft provides for the introduction of amendments to various clauses of the aforementioned provision, which further facilitate the recruitment of citizens of other states into the Russian Armed Forces.
In truth, this is not such a fresh innovation. Even 7 (!) Years ago, the government newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta announced: “Yesterday, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the RF Law, which amends the Laws“On Military Duty and Military Service”and“On the Status of Servicemen”. The essence of the amendments is that they create a legal basis for the service of foreigners in the Russian army. The reason is also recognized there: "For the first time that foreigners will be able to serve in the Russian Armed Forces, representatives of the RF Ministry of Defense announced this March (2003)." Within a few months, the Main Organizational and Mobilization Directorate of the General Staff prepared draft legislative acts, and in October (the exact date is October 17) of this year, 400 State Duma deputies unanimously adopted a law that allowed military service for foreigners. At the end of the same month, the law was approved by the Federation Council and submitted to the President of the Russian Federation for signature. " The head of state signed it on November 12, 2003.
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Federates - during the late Roman Empire, tribes who entered the military service of the empire and carried it on the borders, for which they received land for settlement and a salary. Often these measures were forced: in this way the emperors bought off the barbarians, whose armies could not be defeated, and at the same time put them at their service. Such treaties were concluded not between states or peoples, but personally between the rulers, and therefore after the death of the ruler who concluded the treaty, the union usually ceased to exist.
For the late empire, the distinction between foederati (federates) and socii (allies) is unclear. It is known that the latter traditionally served in the Roman army, not being citizens of Rome. The service of barbarians in the Roman army and their resettlement on Roman territory contributed to the gradual barbarization of both the army itself and the state.
Even then, commentators noted that the military department was going to recruit contractors from the former "fraternal" republics of Central Asia, like some kind of DEZ - guest workers-janitors. Moreover, the military as a whole did not deny that they were guided by a similar principle.
In the newspaper Krasnaya Zvezda on November 26, 2003, these innovations were commented as follows: “The Russian Ministry of Defense submitted to the State Duma a draft of amendments and additions to the current legislation on military service concerning contract soldiers, which was developed by the Interdepartmental Working Group. This was announced at a press conference in the Ministry of Defense by the head of the Main Organizational and Mobilization Directorate (GOMU) - Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the RF Armed Forces, Colonel-General Vasily Smirnov. " “Today the country is flooded with the so-called. guest workers who are ready to do any job for a pittance. For them, volunteering can become a reliable bridge leading to obtaining Russian citizenship. Three years after the conclusion of the contract, the Ministry of Defense has the right to apply for the granting of Russian citizenship to these citizens,”Vasily Smirnov said. And after the expiration of his service term, a contractor “can enter on preferential terms at any state university in the country,” the general noted. In many countries, it is this perspective that is often the incentive for impeccable service."
Most of the neighboring countries, by the way, then responded very sourly to this Russian defense initiative: relatively positive responses came only from Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. However, our generals did not hide the fact that it was the experience of the Tajik war of the 90s that inspired them to this experiment. Then, indeed, most of the Russian border guards on the Tajik-Afghan border consisted of Tajiks. While remaining citizens of Tajikistan, they nevertheless swore allegiance to the Russian banner, wore the appropriate chevrons on their sleeves, and generally fought quite well.
However, in the 90s there were enough other curiosities: many officers who served outside Russia at the time of the collapse of the USSR turned out to be citizens of the newly emerging states. And even after moving to Russia and holding various positions in our army, they could not obtain Russian citizenship for years. Everyone probably remembers the teleconference when a warrant officer of the 201st division located in Tajikistan turned to Vladimir Putin and asked why he, who is actually fighting for Russia and even awarded the title of Hero of Russia, cannot obtain Russian citizenship. Putin, I remember, was then very embarrassed and promised to somehow figure it out. But there were thousands of such cases! Many Russian guys, whose families moved to Russia from the oppression of the nationalists of the newly baked states, were drafted into the Russian army, they completely completed military service - but even did not receive Russian citizenship for demobilization. Oddly enough, it was easier to get it after serving time in prison, through a certificate of release … However, we digress from the topic.
It is clear that then, in 2003, when the rate for the contract army was announced, our statesmen figured that it was possible to save at least a little on this. And they decided to act according to the "DEZ principle" - to allow the recruitment of guest workers. That is, foreign contractors, it is clear that they are mainly from neighboring countries.
However, it did not work out - for a whole range of reasons. All this time, the number of foreign contractors in the Russian troops fluctuated between 300-350 people, and most of them served outside Russia - in military units on the territories of the 102nd Russian base in Armenia and the 201st base in Tajikistan.
According to the General Staff for 2009, most of all in the Russian army were citizens of Tajikistan - 103 people. In second place are citizens of Uzbekistan (69 people), in third - Ukraine (42). In addition to them, Belarusians, Kazakhs, Armenians and even 1 citizen of Georgia also serve Russia. Where exactly his unit was located during the armed conflict between Russia and Georgia, the Ministry of Defense does not report.
But at the beginning of this spring, as KM. RU already said, the military department acknowledged the complete failure of the transition to a contract army (where did the money allocated over the years for this program go - another story) and the need for a massive conscription of all who are capable of becoming armed. However, due to demographic problems, the draft fund is still limited, and some of the personnel will still have to be recruited under a contract. Therefore, the military department decided to revive the idea of 7 years ago and further simplify the opportunity for citizens of neighboring countries to stand under Russian banners.
For example, in the previous edition of the aforementioned "Regulations on the procedure for military service," the volunteer's absence of a Russian passport was the first of the possible reasons for refusing to accept him for contract service. This item has now been removed.
Foreigners of all countries, without exception, between the ages of 18 and 30 can be hired to serve in the Russian army. There is no educational qualification, but it is necessary to prove knowledge of the Russian language and pass fingerprinting, which is mandatory for all contract servicemen.
Unlike Russian citizens, a foreigner does not swear allegiance to Russia and does not undertake to "courageously defend the freedom, independence and constitutional order of Russia." He undertakes only to abide by the Constitution, "to fulfill the military duty with dignity" and "to carry out the orders of the commanders."
The first contract a foreigner will have to conclude for 5 years (for citizens of Russia - for 3 years), and for those who are going to study at a military university or school - additionally for the period of study. After serving the first term, a foreigner is demobilized, unless during this time he has received Russian citizenship (service in the Russian army gives the right to a Russian passport after three years).
At the same time, in contrast to Russian contract soldiers, it is possible to save money on their colleagues of other citizenship. They are not entitled to any benefits. Foreign contractors are provided with housing only for the duration of their service and only in a hostel; they will not be given vouchers to sanatoriums and children's camps, and they will not pay for vacation tickets. The salary of a mercenary will be the same as that of his Russian colleague (now, depending on the region, 10-12 thousand rubles).
Actually, nothing is new under the moon. And representatives of the military department, developing this idea before the highest state leadership, will be able to safely refer to the experience of the Roman Empire itself. When most of the Romans preferred "bread and circuses" to military service, and the extended borders still had to be somehow protected, the imperial leadership gave birth to a similar idea. The Roman legions began to recruit representatives of all imperial and neighboring peoples - both individually and as whole tribes. Many of them, by the way, made a brilliant career, becoming not only great generals, but even emperors - like Philip the Arab or Maximinus the Thracian. And often (as, for example, the Dalmatian Diocletian) were more patriots of Rome than most of the native Romans. Only all the same, in the end, it all ended very sadly for Rome …
