Russia

Wed

Apr

2015

Kindergarten kids holding 'AK-47s' during 'patriotic class' cause outrage in Russia

New translation available

Submitted by antimili-youth

Moscow: Pictures of young Russian children posing with mock AK-47 rifles and other weapons at a kindergarten have provoked a storm of controversy, but some defended them as patriotic education.

Pictures making the rounds online show boys...

Tue

Aug

Soldiers' Mothers of St. Petersburg introduce mobile app "Draftee Online" to help draftees

Submitted by hannah on Tue, 02/08/2016 - 11:34

The Android application "Draftee Online" is an aid to any draftee, whether he intends to do army service or has the right to an exemption.

The app provides advice based on the rich experience of the lawyers at the human rights organization Soldiers' Mothers of St Petersburg, who help draftees to figure out the most pressing and complex questions of the military draft, and to defend their rights independently.

"Draftee Online" is set up so that a young person who suffers a violation of the law can find a case related to his own situation and receive concrete recommendations as to the actions he can undertake to protect his rights.

The application describes the most frequent situations that draftees encounter, as well as giving templates of the necessary declarations and complaints.

The application unites a large number of useful functions, which every draftee should have at the ready:

Mon

Apr

Crimea hands out military draft papers to newborn boys

Submitted by antimili-youth on Mon, 25/04/2016 - 15:47

The Guardian

Russian authorities in Crimea have formally presented newborn boys with military draft notices alongside the more usual birth certificates, calling on them to report for duty in 2032.

The Crimean government handed out the notices to newborn boys during a solemn ceremony in the Sevastopol civil registry office as part of celebrations for an annual holiday known as Defender of the Fatherland Day on 23 February.

Thu

Jun

Russia unveils new military park for children

Submitted by antimili-youth on Thu, 18/06/2015 - 15:20

By Rory Challands, Al Jazeera

Kids can learn to shoot, climb on tanks and learn of past military glories in the Park Patriot.

When the doors of Park Patriot open to the public next year, the families who flock here will be treated to an exciting array of activities. The youngsters will be able to fire weapons, clamber on battle tanks, and drive military equipment. Then, once they're suitably tired out, everyone can settle down to watch a reenactment of a famous Soviet battlefield victory. And of course there'll be a recruitment centre for military age boys and girls to join the armed forces.

Thu

Sep

Russian Army Recruitment Video: 'Pain Makes You Stronger'

Submitted by hannah on Thu, 11/09/2014 - 11:36

The intense recruitment ad comes at time of renaissance for the Russian army.

“Be all you can be”? Not today. “An Army of One"? No chance.

“This is … the first day of your new life.”

Russian Army Recruitment Video: 'Pain Makes You Stronger'

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Countering Military Recruitment

WRI's new booklet, Countering Military Recruitment: Learning the lessons of counter-recruitment campaigns internationally, is out now. The booklet includes examples of campaigning against youth militarisation across different countries with the contribution of grassroot activists.

You can order a paperback version here.