Time to repay debts
The term "social protection of military personnel" came to us from distant 90's and today could already become an anachronism. From whom, it would seem, it is necessary to protect people in uniform, if they can stand up for themselves. But sometimes it is the officers, retired military personnel, as well as their family members, who turn out to be the most powerless before the arbitrariness and callousness of officials, indifference, bureaucracy and local corruption, and therefore they need the most protection. Although recently there have been many positive developments in this issue. This, in particular, was discussed at one of the last Coordination Councils under the chairman of the Federation Council on the social protection of military personnel, law enforcement officers and their family members.POSITIVE CHANGES
In accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation, the conduct of social policy and social protection of military personnel are assigned to the state. Many rules in this regard are enshrined in law. However, the lack of financial resources has not made it possible for many years to fully realize the constitutional rights and social guarantees of people in uniform, especially those who faithfully served the Fatherland and are now on a well-deserved rest.
Under these conditions, the role of civil society, public organizations and associations in the conduct of military social policy increases. Many of them are heard and do a lot. Among them are organizations such as the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation, the National Charitable Foundation, the All-Russian Public Organization “Officers of Russia”, military trade unions, the National Association MEGAPIR, the public organization “Combat Brotherhood”, the Russian Union of War Veterans in Afghanistan, and many others. The role of the Coordination Council under the chairman of the Federation Council, which has repeatedly attracted the attention of society and the country's leadership to these resonant issues, is also great.
“Solving such problems in recent years has become one of the priorities of the state social policy,” said Viktor Ozerov, chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Defense and Security. - For example, at a meeting of the Security Council of the Russian Federation in July 2013, Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed the need to continue working to strengthen the social guarantees of servicemen.
Since 2012, a new military-social model has been operating in the Russian Armed Forces and law enforcement agencies, based on a cardinal increase in the monetary allowance of servicemen and suggesting improvement in the military-social sphere. Due to this, the salaries for military posts and military ranks were significantly increased.
The monitoring conducted on the basis of the reform of monetary allowances revealed the main trends in the changes in the social status of servicemen and persons dismissed from military service. The quality of life of the officers has reached and became commensurate with the average national value. The monthly average income per family member of a former soldier equaled the average income per family member in the country. The ratio between the average military and the average civilian pension returned to the level of the 2002 of the year and was 1,8 times.
The situation with the provision of reserve personnel with housing has also changed for the better before our eyes. Over the past three years, the number of people in need of better housing conditions has decreased by almost three times. According to the statements of officials, by January 1 2014, the Russian Ministry of Defense had fulfilled its obligations to provide housing for all the servicemen who had joined the queue before 2012, which happened for the first time.
Additional payments are provided to military personnel undergoing military service in the Far North and remote areas, military units deployed abroad of the Russian Federation and performing tasks in a state of emergency, as well as payments to military personnel during combat operations. In addition, allowances for classiness, physical fitness, knowledge of foreign languages and a number of others have been established.
Much attention is paid to the construction of modern residential townships with a developed social and cultural infrastructure, including public catering and retail outlets, clinics, sports facilities and various other facilities.
Measures are being taken to improve medical and sanatorium-resort provision. The territorial system of military medical institutions is being improved. Planned construction, reconstruction of more 150 medical institutions and providing them with modern equipment.
- We do not forget about the social adaptation of retired military personnel. Their professional retraining is carried out in military educational institutions, - said State Secretary of the Ministry of Defense of Russia Nikolay Pankov. - From 2012, the Ministry of Defense is implementing an experiment on retraining of retired employees based on personalized educational certificates. In 2013, the list of educational institutions where these citizens can undergo retraining is increased to 150 universities.
At the same time, the existence of some regional training centers for the social adaptation of military personnel is under great threat. In particular, in Khabarovsk, Tver, Volgograd and a number of other cities. Is it because thousands of troops after the transfer to the reserve remain unclaimed? It is very difficult for them to adapt to modern conditions, and the state must constantly think about how to return these people with experience, knowledge, and education to an active creative life and work. For the time being, the road is for many - only to private security companies, which have already become the notorious private security companies.
In 2013, a federal law developed by specialists of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation was adopted, aimed at increasing the prestige of military service by conscription. The most important thing is that its democratization (or liberalization) is finally taking place. Shower and tea rooms are installed in the barracks, washing machines are installed. The transfer of canteens with a capacity of more than 150 people to catering with elements of the "buffet" was organized. Citizens who conscientiously performed their military duty are given an advantage when they enroll in higher education institutions or receive additional education, including abroad, as well as preferences when entering state and municipal services.
Amendments to the Federal Law “On Military Duty and Military Service” were drafted, providing for changes to the work of draft commissions to recognize a citizen who did not pass military service without a valid reason as a draft diversion. But the most important thing is that a person with such a characteristic will no longer be able to apply for a job as a government official. More precisely, he will be able to pretend, but he will not get this job.
Special attention is paid to servicemen who were injured or injured while conducting counter-terrorist operations in the North Caucasus region of the Russian Federation, as well as during the operation to force Georgia to peace. The National Charitable Foundation provided significant material assistance to the families of 29 thousand of such soldiers. Extensive interaction has been established with the committees of soldiers' mothers.
In general, the positive changes in the socio-economic situation of military personnel and their family members in 2013 were characterized by:
- growth of satisfaction with their socio-economic position and above all with the level of cash security;
- consistent solution of housing problems through the provision of permanent and service housing, as well as the development of a system of mortgage housing loans for military personnel;
- increasing the attractiveness of military service under the contract and the desire of military personnel to continue it;
- improvement of social and living conditions of the service of conscription.
According to the VTsIOM polls conducted in 2013, the majority of Russians believe that the army is currently in the “average” position (this answer was given to 46% of respondents), whereas in 1998, only one Russian from 100 was able to positively assess the situation in the Russian Armed power
SWIPS IN LEGAL FIELD
However, not everything is as smooth in this area as it may seem at first glance. Recently, very characteristic negative trends have emerged. Thus, the increase in the money allowance, as it turned out, did not fully compensate for the cost of canceled benefits, among which were free travel for servicemen and their family members (for treatment) and back, compensation payments for sanatorium-resort treatment and a number of others. The officer corps was not ready for a new model of sanatorium and resort services, since it requires an early accumulation of funds by the time of granting leave. Although the latter is most likely a lack of general low financial and economic literacy of our population and in particular people who have spent a significant part of their lives in the public service, on, so to speak, “full board”, depriving them of their initiative and the need to plan anything in such matters.
According to the chairman of the commission of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation on the problems of national security and socio-economic conditions of military personnel, their family members and veterans, Alexander Kanshin, in the last year, the leadership of the Russian Defense Ministry appeared what is called a “human face, it became pleasant to work with him” . There is no arrogance, arrogance, amateurishness. Although some time ago in the domestic military department it was difficult to deal with housing problems. A lot of money was invested, but tens of thousands of apartments for military personnel were empty. Now the situation has changed.
“First of all, people are nervous about the lack of feedback, lack of information, deception, which creates a tense situation,” Kanshin noted in November 2013 of the year. - Everyone is equal before the law, but there are still a lot of corrupt officials in the power component of the state who are admitted to material resources. Not always cases are brought to court, they do not always receive a decent punishment. It beats the authority of the state and military service.
It is unlikely that in the past four months everything has changed in this regard. In order to combat such phenomena, it is necessary to involve public organizations more widely, to increase the role of officers' meetings. Kanshin gave an example of how he and a group of experts had recently worked in the North Caucasus and noticed that the contract soldiers of the Internal Troops and the Ministry of Defense (58 Army) are in the same conditions at a hot spot, equally risking their lives and shedding blood, sacrificing themselves but have different benefits and allowances. The thing is that for some reason the contract soldiers of the Russian Ministry of Defense were truncated, so that in the end, the Internal Troops who want to sign up for the contract service are lining up, but in the 58 army they are not in a hurry.
Alexander Kanshin also raised the issue of social justice in relation to military retirees. According to him, about 30 million pensioners and veterans (including pensioners - former civil servants of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation) are currently in total in the country. Therefore, it is necessary to create a separate body uniting all, say, the Committee on Veterans Affairs, which would include the organizations of military retirees of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, of which there are not too many.
The same topic was continued by the Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Labor, Social Policy and Veterans Affairs, Chairman of the Russian Union of Veterans, Army General Mikhail Moiseev. He raised, in particular, the question of the discriminatory reduction factor 0,54 (54% of the amount of salary for a military position, military rank and percentage of service indebtedness), which was introduced since January 1 of 2012, and drastically changed the previous order. accrual of pensions. This put many people in uniform in an unequal position, but for some reason did not touch the judges, military prosecutors and some other government officials. As a result, many veterans are still suing their department, flooded with letters and appeals by many instances.
“Taking care of veterans is a moral duty of society and the state,” Moiseyev emphasized. “Therefore, we strive to unite our efforts in primary directions, to defend the right of veterans to a decent life. I propose calculating the pension of military pensioners of old age (over 75 years) to produce without a reduction factor, as well as significantly increase military pensions for widows who today have an average pension of 10 thousand 58 rubles.
Good suggestion, do not say anything. But the question arises: why is it proposed to abolish the discriminatory coefficient only from 75 years? The average age of life for men in Russia today, as you know, is a little over 60 years. The question is, for whom this proposal - for those who are no longer there? And it would not be more fair to lower this age limit even by at least ten years?
Today, only 162 250 participants of the Great Patriotic War are left in the country. The duty of the state is to improve their social situation. But, as Moses said, the fundamental improvement in the lives of veterans did not happen, and for a variety of reasons at once. Rising prices, inflation ... In his opinion, it would be necessary to release people with disabilities and participants of the Great Patriotic War from all types of payment for housing, utility services, electricity, gas, telephone, real estate and land (including through the payment of appropriate compensation). On the eve of the 70 anniversary of the Great Victory, this would be perceived by the society with understanding. Another opportunity already, perhaps, will not be. On the other hand, at the same time, it is necessary to avoid the facts of unfair and completely unreasonable use of the privileges available to veterans, their close and distant relatives either legally or morally.
The question was raised that medicine today has practically ceased to treat veterans, and getting a voucher to a sanatorium has become completely problematic. True, this process was stabilized with the arrival of the new Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, General of the Army Sergei Shoigu. But much remains to be done.
- The legal field, which is formed by the state, is not clear, including the defenders of the Fatherland, causes a strong protest mood among veterans. In particular, laws on monetization of housing and communal services, a number of others, - Moiseyev noted. - On the other hand, we, the legislators, unreasonably long decide on the payment of a second disability pension, for labor activity after being transferred to the reserve and others. Almost half of disabled military service do not work today and receive only a disability pension. And to live on it is not so easy.
Retraining of retired military personnel -
an important element of their social adaptation.
an important element of their social adaptation.
IF STATE ON THE PARTY
According to the Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Defense, the leader of the Russian Union of Afghan Veterans, Franz Klintsevich, veterans of the Afghan war have the same problems: provision of housing and work, health, support for the families of the victims. Much has been done over the past 25 years since the end of the war, but even today, after a quarter of a century, only 13% of “Afghans” are satisfied with housing, for example, by law. Having not achieved truth and support, some of them lose their last hope for justice. Caught in a hopeless situation, faced with the callousness and indifference of officials, sometimes they even end up suicide. There are such cases.
Today, issues of searching for missing persons in the course of military operations in Afghanistan and the North Caucasus are still relevant. Even in the war in Afghanistan, for example, 132 missing people are still missing. There is a sad list for the North Caucasus.
In accordance with Russian legislation, care for the social protection of servicemen and their family members is the responsibility of the state. However, in modern developed society, the limitations of the social policy of the state and its insufficient effectiveness are felt more and more, not only because of the existing resource constraints, but also because of the very specifics of state forms of influence on society.
In this regard, the issue of the participation of civil society in ensuring the rights of servicemen is one of the key issues in Russia. It is social issues that become the subject of sharp disputes and conflicts between servicemen and ministries and departments. Suffice it to say that in 2012, military personnel filed 112 thousand claims to the Supreme Commander and leadership of the Ministry of Defense of Russia. The Public Chamber of the Russian Federation has reviewed over 8 thousands of letters, complaints and appeals of military personnel, plus about 5,5 thousand calls have been received on the hotline. In the 2013 year, only the Chief Military Prosecutor’s Office received more than 14 thousand appeals concerning the observance of the social rights of people in uniform and persons discharged from military service, as well as their family members. Military prosecutors, while ensuring the constitutional rights and social guarantees of these categories of citizens in 2013, revealed 114 977 violations of the law, restored the rights of 320 687 persons.
One of the reports of the ombudsman in the Russian Federation notes that one of the reasons for the violation of the rights of military personnel, the existence of non-statutory relations in the Armed Forces, as well as other social problems is “inefficiency, and by and large lack of civilian control over the Armed Forces”. Sociological surveys of recent years show: the participation of civil society organizations in upholding the rights and interests of military personnel and military retirees takes only third place (18%), after protecting civil and political rights and freedoms (25%) and participating in political elections at all levels (22% ). Do political rights and freedoms have more value for human rights defenders than the rights of defenders of the Motherland or, especially, veterans who gave up their youth and sometimes their health so that the citizens of our country have these same political rights?
At the same time, the volume of funds spent, the interests of the country's security and defense, as well as the important social parameters of the reforms, make it imperative to have civilian control over the effectiveness of the reforms taking place in the army and law enforcement agencies. The society has the right and the obligation to know how the military organization and law enforcement system functions, whether the military personnel and their families have all the necessary things for a full life and for the qualitative fulfillment of their duties.
World experience shows that a mature civil society can not only complement the social efforts of the state, but also carry out their adjustment. Social organizations focused on social goals can quickly and effectively find low-cost solutions to many social problems. Non-profit associations have significant opportunities to participate in the improvement of legislation in the field of social security of military personnel. In turn, for government bodies such activity is, in fact, a feedback, an assessment of the effectiveness of their activities.
Recall that in international law the role and place of public institutions in the military social policy of states are enshrined in the Expert Memorandum of the International Institute of Humanitarian Law in San Remo (Italy, 1984 year), which defines the rights and obligations of public organizations. In particular, they are “allowed to deal with issues related to working conditions, regime, as well as legal, economic, social, cultural and moral protection of military personnel and protection of their health, but are not allowed to organize the process of service, education, training of personnel, training and conducting operations, supplies, issues of hierarchical and functional assignments and distribution of duties ".
In connection with the foregoing, the work on the preparation of a federal law “On public control in the sphere of combating corruption in the Russian Federation” has been intensified. The government is recommended to consider the proposal of public associations and organizations to establish a federal executive body for veterans' affairs. A draft federal law “On the Commissioner for the Rights of Military Personnel in the Russian Federation” will be drafted and submitted to the State Duma; measures have been taken to create a public supervisory board under the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation. There is also a need to consider the creation within the structure of the Russian government of a special state body for military personnel, veterans and combatants, citizens discharged from military service, and their family members, who would be in charge of all issues of coordinating the activities of public associations.
And the last. It seems that it is time for the leadership of the Ministry of Defense of Russia to finally finally hold an All-Russian officer meeting and the next All-Army meeting of military officers with the participation of public organizations involved in the social protection of military personnel. And at the All-Russian Forum of Public Organizations, consider measures to improve the social status of servicemen.
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