Almost a month ago, two citizens of Russia Grigory Turcan and Roman Zabolotny were captured by militants LIH (banned organization in the Russian Federation), writes Alexander Kots in “Komsomolskaya Pravda”. At the movies, published by terrorists, The novel tells, it happened in the province of Deir ez-Zor, where are offensive Syrian government forces, backed by Russian VKS. However, by the Ministry of Defense of the two Russians have nothing to do.
As it appears, Turcan and Zabolotny were fighters private military company, which is on the ground helping the Syrian army to fight militants “an Islamic state”. Who are they – PMC soldiers in that country?
Man-injury
Such do not speak “korenastыy, strong, posture betrayed him military”… About an ordinary guy 40, walk on by – the eye does not catch hold. ripped jeans, stylish cardigan, good perfume. We met in 2014 in the trenches of Slavonic. One of thousands of people with drive, arrived from Russia in Donbass volunteered to defend the idea of Russian world. Semenovka, Donetsk airport, wound, Ilovaysk, Debal'tsevo, back injury, treatment in Rostov: “I did not come back already become, after Minsk II there boring. Well I came to fight, instead of marching on the parade ground”.
Denis – man-war. Enlisted paratroopers fought in Grozny. A couple of years lorded it over in the civilian, contracted, and here – second Chechnya. Ottrubil at the front 9 months, until he received his first wound – APC was blown up by a land mine…
– You're walking straight injury, Dan, – I laugh at a meeting.
In Moscow, he was on medication – two bullets stitched shoulder and hip, without hitting anything vital. This time, fate brought him to Syria, Pod Dyeir-az-DR. However, official reports, you can hardly find a mention of it. One name is Denis “soldier of fortune”, other – naemnikom. He does not care, he just loves war, as well as for favorite business get paid well, complain.
– The month can turn out up to 300 thousand, although I have a standard “rate” 220 thousand, – says Denis. – Treatment after injury provided. However, if a couple of years to begin some complications – it's on you. Prosthetics is also not paid.
– And the salary is not detained?
– the main thing, to do their job and not kosyachit. There is a system of fines, which can severely reduce your earnings. And if for me as a Muscovite's just a good salary, guy from the provinces for the trip can solve their housing problem. Therefore, many come just to deal with his problem zhilischskoy. They lack one trip. I was the third. It was in Aleppo, and at Palmyra. Good job, but they can also kill.
quiet funeral
Denis does not tell, he who pays and what is the division. Although he knows, I understand: he – fighter private military company, the existence of which is officially in Russia no one speaks. And this is the case, when the longer silent, the harder it is to admit the obvious. And hide in the age of the Internet is constantly pop-up facts is almost impossible.
On the websites of the regional media and then there are the little mourning Posts: “In the performance of military duty, our countryman killed in Syria”. Usually, Defense Ministry does not comment on such news. or reports, what “all troops in Syria are in place and perform tasks”. And there lies or deceit. Because the PMC soldiers are not structurally part of the defense establishment, do not obey him. And this – international practice. In none of the countries of western PMCs losses are not considered by governments. That is why, if we talk about sociology, the average European would prefer, that from his country went to war instead of a professional mercenary military personnel. At first, level of training of the first is often much higher. And secondly, Only relatives will weep for him. No solemn funeral with coffins, upholstered national flags, no guard of honor, no editorials in national newspapers… And consequently, and no lamentations: “For what our boys are dying in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria…”
And there is only ethical side. It turns out, that in case of emergency (of the captivity) the government seems not to notice in distress its citizens. And how “Russian do not throw their”?
“It's just a job”
– Well, At first, no one yet in reality does not throw, – angry with another friend of mine “soldier of fortune”. – And if you do not tell, This does not mean, that the state is not doing anything. And secondly, about moral and ethical anguish only think you, journalists. We are well aware, what go, signing a contract.
With Oleg I, too, had once brought voenkorovskaya trail. We met in 2008 year, after the war in South Ossetia. He was a major, his department has issued the severity of the first two days of the battle for Tskhinvali. He and his fighters received state awards. I wrote about them in the newspapers some time…
– And then, the then Minister of Defense Serdyukov decided to disband one of the military units of the 58th Army – my, – Oleg bores me look.
– I remember, but you're also offered the post.
– To her, military officer found a place in the engineering team. Thank you, serve themselves.
In civilian life he worked as a security guard Oleg First, then I tried to open the car wash on fancy tuning machines, but someone burned his garage workshop. And in 2015 , one of the former colleagues suggested “work on a profile”.
– We now have no grievances against the state, – he explains to me over a cup of tea. – There are certain conditions, on which you agree, going to the PMC. If you take captive, State tell, it is not to blame. If you are killed, your body, likely, will not be transported to his homeland. But your family will receive between one and four million rubles. Depending on the contract. You forbidden to mention about its activities wherever it may, especially in social networks. Parents in most cases, too, are aware of these conditions,. Therefore, do not run to complain to reporters in the case of tragedy.
– Many of these cases?
– shit happens, We are not robots immortal. What's the difference, much or little. This should not be the concern of journalists. This is not a conscript, which used to be thrown into the meat grinder of Grozny with a gun and two magazines. These are professional mercenaries, who know, which were.
– And what…
– Well, I've seen we have some ideological fighters, that for all the good against the bad things. Someone – solely because of money. One simply does not know anything else and do not want to study. This is not about patriotism, if you do this. policeman, going to work, I do not think the same: “I live in Russia, I'm proud of my country. And I will make their country safer”. or a janitor: “It is necessary to make the country cleaner”. It's just a job. That we have a war – it's just a job. I am an officer, scout, I know, how to do a good job. And if I die, This is my own business. What's wrong with this motivation?
– You have all these?
– so different. We're not an army, fall and convictions. it happens, people bad, a good soldier. So I train children with them not to baptize. The people there make a real feat, canonical cinematic. And there are freaks, who takes down tower. Such ship home without talking. At least in my department so.
informal recommendations
At the hearing is not the most heroic and not very long history of existence of PMCs “Slavic housing”. About 300 Russian citizens 2013 year signed a contract with the company, registered in Hong Kong, and went to Syria to protect the oil fields in the province of Deir ez-Zor. However, on the spot, they had to perform normal combat missions. In one of the clashes with the terrorists six Russian soldiers were wounded.
Leaders of this PMC Vadim Gusev and Yevgeny Sidorov, on his return to his homeland was sentenced under article “employed labor” for three years. This high-profile case has raised a new wave of enthusiasts, advocating the legalization of PMCs in Russia.
– The peak of preparation of documents fell on 2015 year, – said the expert of the Security Committee at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Jan Branicki. He was one of the drafters of the private military companies bill.. – There were serious discussions in many state institutions, including in the government. the mass of documents has been prepared, justifications, developed by experts, including Professor of the Department of National Security of the Russian Academy of State Service, Alexander Mikhailenko. But all came to naught. However, if we talk about the informal side, all ideas and recommendations, which were announced in 2015 year, as Russia joins abroad, some relations are very well implemented in practice.
What are these recommendations?
– They were concerned, what risks you can neutralize, using private armed groups outside of Russia. First of all, this is the lack of formal ties between these formations and the state apparatus of the country., conducting some kind of military operation. Reproach the state for, that his soldiers are carrying out certain missions, or even seen in some military incidents, impossible. And we see this in the example of the Americans, French, British… If something happens they say: “We weren't there”. Secondly, PMCs can be used there, where the armed forces cannot be used for various reasons. Including due to the fact, that these are not army functions. And the United States is also doing this., and Israel, and South Africa… Marine brigade will not guard the gas condensate field. And you don't have to guard with a watchman with a baton, but to organize a full-fledged defense in accordance with the combat manual. This can be done by a private company, empowered, funds and personnel, who was trained. Or, for example, if the US sells some weapons to a third country, then this is not a huge monster like ours “Rosoboronexport” or “Rosvooruzheniye”. A competition is held among private companies, and private specialists go there. At the same time, they teach as instructors., organize protection-defense, repair of equipment and so on. And all this turns out dozens of times cheaper., than the services of huge corporations.
Large legal market
Today, Russia has practically no presence on the private military services market.. We have a specific niche – ensuring the safety of navigation. But this – one or two companies, albeit with a high reputation. There is the presence of our compatriots, but under foreign flags.
– Russian companies are no pure, PMCs have, registered in offshore zones – Malta, Cyprus… – explains Jan Branitsky. – On Syria, our country could hone the basics of working privateers. There the total, unbridled outlaws private companies had passed the path to an absolute regulation of the work of PMCs. Now this market is definitely dominated by the Americans and British, and there is no reason to let competitors in there, even for the protection of our own facilities, They dont have. It's hard to get into this business. But the problem is, that there is no state support. I'm not talking about the laws and regulations. They all operate only within Russia. And when we speak of PMCs, mean work abroad. There is a Russian object – consulate, representation, oil fields, factory – it does not matter. The state should build a completely transparent scheme: here the object, here's budget, That's my tender. I assure you, in Russia there are people, which provide excellent protection and perform the task. They will decide for themselves matters with a foreign country, with transport, with weapons. We need only legal rules of the game.
Today, Russian “soldiers of fortune” They are in a certain gray area – and financial, and legal. Although when it comes to Syria, then a good lawyer in the case, which can cling to one interpretation of the Criminal Code. In a footnote to article 359 states: “A mercenary is a person, acts in order to obtain material compensation and not a citizen of the state, participating in an armed conflict or hostilities”. However, Russia is fighting in Syria officially, at the invitation of the legitimate government. This means, its citizens, consisting of PMC, They can not be considered mercenaries. Although it would be easier still to bring in legal PMC white box. Which gives good financial prospects. Experts estimate the annual turnover of private military companies in more than 100 billions of dollars. And in this market, we can make a serious competition.
For reference
Private military companies – This commercial structure, are engaged in the implementation of both combat missions around the world, and specific. This protection of the various strategic sites, and training of foreign paramilitary, and services delivered abroad military equipment, and the collection of intelligence… Usually, PMCs are gaining in former military, special forces and intelligence personnel.
Basic PMC monopoly on the market – it is the US and the UK. Also legalized private military companies in Germany, Poland, South Africa, Australia and other countries. However, their market share is very small.
The most famous of PMCs – American Academi (former Blackwater). it – about 20 thousand employees. 90 percent of the orders received from the government. Primary activity – Iraq, Afghanistan.
British Group 4 Securicor, perhaps, the largest company – about 500 thousands of people, which is almost three times the number of British armed forces. This PMC works 125 countries.
According to various estimates, PMC market turnover can reach 100 billion a year.
A comment
Franc Klinčević, First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Defense:
– Today, our major public corporations and large private companies have interests abroad – nefte-, pipelines, tankers, etc.. All they need to ensure the protection of. They are willing to pay for it, why PMCs in Russia would be useful, but within the law. Everything must be agreed. In addition to financial benefits, it is an important social elevator for many people, who have gone through the army, service. It really is claimed. Many can even go for a little money to risk their lives.
A small example. In Afghanistan, it was 140 thousands of members of the US security agency. A 240 thousand – private military companies. AND 40 thousands were representatives of security companies. This is three times more, than we did in Afghanistan, when the Soviet Union introduced the army ... That is why our deputies need to finally agree on a bill with security forces, that would set rules for private military companies.
A source: chvk.info
