
Foreign citizens who wish to serve in the ranks of the Russian army can enter into the first contract with the RF Ministry of Defense for a period of one year. This follows from the new decree signed by Vladimir Putin. The document has already been posted on the official Internet portal of legal information.
According to the document, if a foreign citizen expresses a desire to serve under a contract in the ranks of the Russian army in the positions of privates and sergeants, then the first contract can be signed for a period of one year, and not five years, as previously provided for by Russian law. The new decree amends the "Regulations on the procedure for military service, approved by decree of the President of the Russian Federation of September 16, 1999 No. 1237."
Amend the "Regulations on the procedure for passing military service, approved by decree of the President of the Russian Federation of September 16, 1999 No. 1237 "Issues of military service" (...) by replacing the words "five years" in subparagraph "b" of paragraph 5 of Article 8 with the words "one year"
- says the text of the decree.
In November last year, the President also amended the "Regulations on the order of military service", signing a decree allowing foreign citizens not only to enter into contracts for service in the Russian army, but to serve on conscription. Previously, only citizens of Russia could serve on conscription, foreign citizens could only serve under a contract, this right also remained unchanged in the decree. In the new edition, foreigners can serve as "soldiers, sailors, sergeants, foremen" upon conscription.
In September last year, Putin signed a decree simplifying the acquisition of Russian citizenship for foreign citizens who have signed a contract with the Russian Defense Ministry for a period of at least a year.