Citizens of foreign states have the right to serve in the Russian militaryMarch 7, 2009 - 00:23 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Moscow newspaper "Trud" has reported that Col. Gen. Nikolay Pankov, the deputy defense minister, had recently pointed out that under Russian law, "the citizens of foreign states have the right to serve in the Russian military."The paper added that its sources in the ministry have indicated that "there will not be any propaganda campaign" to recruit them, "but if their numbers increase" - and the number of foreigners serving in the Russian army now is only 308 - "this will only be welcomed" Foreigners were given the chance to serve in the Russian military by a series of amendments in 2004 to the country's basic law on military service. That law does not specify just which foreign citizens could do so - "theoretically," the paper said, "an Australian aborigine" could serve. But "Trud" suggested that "unofficially" military offices have been given "an order to take for service only citizens of the CIS and the Baltic countries." Those now serving include citizens of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Kyrgyzstan, and Armenia, plus two from Latvia, two from Germany, and one from Israel. Despite this diversity in citizenship, two-thirds of the total are ethnic Russians, military officials told the paper. Top stories The number of state universities will be reduced from 23 to 8 by 2030, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan has said. From September 21 to November 11, a total of 2,820 Russians registered at a place of residence in Armenia, the police has said. The situation on the contact line between Karabakh and Azerbaijan was relatively stable overnight, the Defense Army says. Defense Minister Suren Papikyan has visited the southern Armenian province of Syunik, the Defense Ministry reported on March 18. Partner news | Narek Manasyan wins European Boxing Championships silver for Armenia Armenia’s Narek Manasyan (92kg) won Armenia’s second silver medal at the European Boxing Championships 2024 on April 28. Blinken urges Azerbaijan to continue negotiations with Armenia Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has urged Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to continue negotiations with Armenia. Pashinyan, Blinken talk Armenia-U.S. ties over the phone Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on April 28, Pashinyan’s office reports. Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation. |