The Duma voted this Tuesday afternoon July 25 on one of the first stages of the modification of the age bracket of the conscription. The latter will increase, from January 1, 2024, from 27 to 30 years. The minimum age should also be raised, later, from 18 to 21 years. But what catches the eye is an amendment added at the last minute: the possibility for governors to create private military companies.
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From our correspondent in Moscow,
On paper, it might sound like “regional Wagners”. But since the abortive mutiny of June, it is of course a question of a resumption in hand. In fact, these paramilitary companies will be under the supervision of the state, and extremely supervised.
Their task? ” Assist the security forces in the protection of public order, the fight against saboteurs and illegal armed groups. »
Of course, their members will have the right to bear arms. But here again, their use is strictly regulated: only to shoot down drones, respond to an armed attack or against protected places.
Who will provide these weapons? The law evokes a vague federally authorized agency “. Employees will, in any case, be required to return them in the event of liquidation of their organization by presidential decree, within thirty days.
Everything must also come from the presidency: legally, these companies will indeed be state enterprises. Only Vladimir Putin will be able to approve the list of regions authorized to have them. And this, in only three specific contexts: martial law, state of war, mobilization.
The mobilization is officially stopped on paper today in Russia. But the decree that launched it, signed almost a year ago, is still in force.
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