It is not the first day in the State Duma discussed the draft law on the establishment of the Russian Federation of Private Military Companies (PMC), Ilya Muromsky writes on the website “Federal News Agency”. On the eve of the Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs, Eurasian integration and relations with compatriots Viktor Vodolatsky admitted the possibility of creating a PMC, eg, under the law on the Voluntary Society for the Assistance of the Army, aviation and navy (DOSAAF).
Let's start in order. What is PMC? This is a commercial organization, which offers specialized services, protection-related, guard, involving in armed conflicts. Besides, PMC activities involve strategic planning, intelligence gathering, logistics and consulting.
Today in Russia there is a real problem with the provision of ships, protection of a number of facilities in the oil and gas sector, and so on. PMCs could be the solution to this problem. Furthermore, this practice is actively used by Western countries, in particular the USA, UK and France.
It is worth noting, that one of the most common tasks of PMC officers is the military training of soldiers of various armies, increasing their combat readiness and drawing up strategic planning. You don't need to look far for examples: France has long been "training" government forces in Somalia, helping them fight pirates.
Major changes have already been made to the bill (it has been considered since 2014 of the year). for example, persons can become a PMC employee, reached 21 of the year, but not 18 years, as it was in the original version. It is important to pay attention to the fact, that the item was deleted from the bill, who gave permission to PMCs to trade in weapons. The ability of PMCs to participate in the resolution of armed conflicts was seriously limited. In fact, the latest version of the bill proposes to limit private military companies to the protection of Russian multinationals abroad. That is, the protection of strategically important facilities and the protection of key personnel of the country.
Ivan Konovalov, head of the military policy and economy sector of the Russian Institute for Strategic Studies, noted, that PMCs are, first of all, western trend. In Russia, he remarked, it is still perceived with great difficulty.
“However, I must point out, that PMCs are a global trend. And we must work out some kind of solution on this issue. Now we have some “gray area” about private military companies. We can't decide on them in any way. What is actually happening? We have several dozen PMCs, who actually work under contract with Western companies abroad. Since we have no law, which would regulate their activities, here they are the chop (Private security company). Many of us do not understand, what PMCs. Private military company - structure, licensed by the state to act in the interests of this state abroad. Many people here call them mercenaries. But that's not the point. There are tasks, which the army abroad cannot solve due to certain circumstances. And the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the FSB, and the SVR can't decide. here, eg, Americans, British, the French and even the Chinese successfully use PMCs. And we will sit like that, wait for the weather by the sea? It's all very simple. I understand, that in Russia this is perceived extremely negatively, because many consider them to be mercenaries”, - explained the military expert.
First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Defense and Security Franz Klintsevich expressed absolutely clear conviction, that Russia needs private military companies. But, he remarked, there are many nuances here.
“It is necessary to clearly use foreign experience, including American, in terms of positioning PMCs. Because private military companies are a tool for solving many issues, including international. When, eg, there should be no state responsibility due to many existing laws of other countries. Americans use this very actively.. realizing this, I think, that the number of people with a certain experience, that, may be, for some health reasons and so on cannot serve in the armed forces, they could safely perform certain tasks as part of a PMC. Especially, that today our Russian commercial companies (“Gazprom”, “Transneft”, “Lukoil” and many others) have their own infrastructure abroad. Repair is required there, escort, security and stuff. And the presence of PMCs in these conditions is the right decision. Local material, let's call it so, used by our companies abroad, does not stand up to criticism at all”, - says Klintsevich.
Besides, Klintsevich noticed, the question arises of obtaining weapons by PMCs. As practice shows, private military companies have small arms, heavy machine guns, armored vehicles. Therefore, in this matter, there should be a clear relationship between the legislation and PMCs..
“I also consider it necessary to give another argument in favor of private military companies.. We had a lot of military personnel, who were involved in various conflicts. After the service, they were unable to adapt to society. Those social adaptations, which we spent and on which we spent huge amounts of money, did not justify themselves. Specificity, psychology, the mentality of these people is special. Well, they can't work as teachers, taxi drivers, be a businessman and others. In PMCs, these people can succeed. It is very important. And very good, that the topic continues to develop. Besides, with the advent of the Rossguard, there were real opportunities to control these organizations. Today there is a question of the demand for PMCs”, - quotes the statement of Franz Klintsevich by the author of the material “Federal News Agency”.
