In Russia, they can determine the “basis of purpose” of the Cossacks for the army

to the State Duma made a draft law that will determine the “fundamentals of the mission” of the Russian Cossacks while serving in the mobilization reserve of the Armed Forces (AF) of Russia.

The initiative was initiated by United Russia deputies: ataman of the All-Russian Cossack Society and Cossack General Nikolai Doluda, singer Denis Maidanov, Paralympic athlete Sergei Burlakov and others.

It follows from the document that the Cossacks who have assumed obligations to perform civil service or who are in reserve enter the mobilization manpower reserve of the Russian army on a voluntary basis by concluding an appropriate contract. Control over observance of obligations to perform service will be entrusted to atamans of farm, stanitsa, city, district (yurt), district (departmental) and military Cossack societies.

If the chieftains of the All-Russian Cossack society record “systematic failures” to fulfill the obligations that were assigned to the chieftains of the Cossack societies, they will have the right to remove them from their positions until an extraordinary meeting of the supreme governing body of the corresponding Cossack society for the election of the chieftain.

The explanatory note clarified that members of the Cossack communities are “one of the most sought-after categories of citizens in the reserve.”

On July 7, Doluda announced the amendments at a working meeting with representatives of Cossack societies. “I have repeatedly told you that changes are being made to the 154th Federal Law, next week I will submit this draft for consideration by the State Duma. And I think that in September we will receive it. This is a conversation about the fact that registered Cossack societies will have to form a mobilization reserve. Before signing the agreement on the mobile reserve, we will discuss the percentage of participants from the Cossack societies, ”- led his words to the press service of the All-Russian Cossack Society.

Also during the meeting, Doluda said that more than 21,000 Cossacks are participating in the military operation in Ukraine, including 120 atamans of different levels. According to him, since the beginning of the special operation, 15 volunteer Cossack detachments have been created.

Last summer, Doluda, at a press conference at the headquarters of the All-Russian Cossack Society, said that the mobilization Cossack reserve would be formed by the end of 2022. He called this “the most important task of the Cossacks, because the Cossacks have served the Russian state all their lives.”

On August 9, 2020, Russian President Vladimir Putin approved the Strategy of the State Policy of the Russian Federation towards the Russian Cossacks for 2021-2030. The goal of the strategy was the consolidation of the Cossacks, the preservation and use of their heritage and culture, as well as the formation of an effective mechanism for attracting the Cossacks to public and other service. In addition, participation in measures to strengthen the defense and security of the country, as well as the prevention of extremism, were identified as priorities.

Previously, the inclusion of members of Cossack societies in the reserve by concluding a contract was not necessary, since it was an option for alternative service, explained Vadim Tkachenko, a lawyer, founder and CEO of the vvCube consulting group. “Now this process will be streamlined. Questions arose about how to properly position the Cossack troops and members of the Cossack societies who are in the service, how to conclude contracts with them. Their inclusion in the reserve resolves this situation – contracts will be concluded on a general basis, ”the expert says. Tkachenko also added that the amendments would also take into account the Cossack troops and units that existed in the new territories.

In general, even before this change, a citizen in the reserve, including if he was a member of the Cossack society, could voluntarily conclude a contract to stay in the reserve, says Nikita Filippov, head of the De Jure Law Office. “The changes provide that in order to enter the reserve of its members, the Cossack society enters into an agreement or an agreement with the authorized defense body and already within the framework of the concluded agreements, members of the Cossack societies enter into contracts to stay in the reserve,” the lawyer notes.

The law on Cossack societies provides for registration as a voluntary association with the aim of assisting the authorities to maintain order, eliminate emergencies and patriotic education of youth, but until 2014 the issue was not resolved and members of such societies served on a common basis, says lawyer Yuri Kapshtyk . “Inclusion in the reserve will allow them to be called upon as they become available, urgency and the need to complete tasks,” the expert believes.