Legal recruit payoff to end army bribery, says right MP

State Duma member Vladimir Semyonov of the Union of Right Forces insists on legalising paid dismissal from, or suspension of army conscription. He will shortly offer a related bill to the Russian parliament's lower house, say his press spokesmen.

The government ought to determine payment rates with the returns to go to the Defence Ministry purse. The parliamentarian sees it as a sure way to combat graft. As it is now, suspended conscription is the basis of rampant conscription office bribery. If the arrangement gets on a legal footing, the money will get to the national budget instead of lining venal officials' pockets, Mr. Semyonov's PR say in a statement.

The Duma will debate an alternative civil service bill, June 20.