40 cities in Russia to hold actions in support of army reform

The Union of Right Forces (SPS) will hold on Saturday an action, "Army Reform Now. Part 2. We Will Not Retreat".

SPS press-secretary Yelena Dikun said that a rally and a concert would be arranged in Moscow, attended by party leader Boris Nemtsov, SPS faction leader in the State Duma Irina Khakamada, head of the party's Moscow branch Eduard Vorobyov, and well-known Moscow performers.

Rallies in support of an immediate army reform will also take place in another 40 Russian cities. Considerable police numbers will be called up to maintain law and order at all events.

Dikun emphasised that the Union of Right Forces intends to continue such actions, especially during autumn and spring drafts into the armed forces.

The right organised such actions for the first time in the spring of this year, in many cities of the country. SPS is for an early transition of Russia's armed forces to a contract basis.