The question of the need to regulate the activities of private military companies (PMC) raised again in the State Duma, He writes “Newspaper”. The corresponding bill has already been sent to the government. The question of legalizing PMCs this time in the lower house of parliament was raised after the incident with the American coalition airstrike in Syria, as a result of which the Russians from the Wagner PMC allegedly died. The Ministry of Defense declares, that at the time of the attack, there were no Russian military personnel in that region.
Draft Law on the Regulation of Private Military Companies (PMC) sent to the government for feedback, said the head of the State Duma Defense Committee Vladimir Shamanov, noting, that the topic of legislative regulation of the activities of PMCs has become relevant.
“This is just what it says, that relevance, which Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov outlined about private military companies, requires a state approach, consideration, because it is already a reality”, - quotes “Interfax” Shamanov's statement.
In his opinion, it is necessary to return to the topic of legislative regulation of PMCs, “so as not to guess, and how is there and what is there”.
“But as for the life and health of our citizens, the state should influence in the most direct way”, - he said.
“We work in detail, just yesterday, at the working group of the expert council, the issue and procedure were considered, how we will gather experts to evaluate everything that has been developed on this topic”, - added the head of the profile committee of the State Duma.
Why is the bill needed
About, that it is planned to submit to the State Duma a bill on the legalization of PMCs, in mid-January, the first deputy head of the faction said “fair Russia” Mikhail Emelyanov.
As told by spravedlivoros, the law will allow to attract PMC employees to participate in counter-terrorist operations abroad, to protect the sovereignty of allied states from external aggression and to protect various objects, including gas and oil fields, as well as railways.
The document will spell out the very concept of PMC, as well as the tasks of such organizations, types of works and services. According Emelyanova, the bill contains social guarantees for Russians, working in PMCs in Russia and other countries.
The bill also provides for a number of restrictive measures for PMCs. As expected, such organizations will be prohibited from violating the sovereignty of states and changing their borders, to overthrow the legitimate authorities, to conduct subversive activities, and also develop, buy and store weapons of mass destruction.
The activities of PMCs should be regulated by specialized agencies, MP thinks.
According Emelyanova, to submit to the State Duma the corresponding bill of deputies pushed the words of Lavrov. 15 January, the minister announced the need for legal protection for those, who works in PMCs, noting, that the practice of creating such companies “spreads from many states of the world”.
What exactly will such a law give
In international law, around the activities of PMCs, “gray area”: they are not subject to the International Convention against Recruitment, using, funding and training of mercenaries 1989 of the year, and the regulating PMCs “Montreux document” 2008 of the year (Russia did not sign it) and the International Code of Conduct for Private Military Companies 2010 years are only advisory.
PMCs are not regulated in Russia, although formally the Russian Criminal Code contains an article on mercenary (Article 359 of the Criminal Code). Bills on the legalization of PMCs were submitted to the State Duma twice - in 2014 and 2016 years, - however, they were never adopted.
“Attracting PMCs to participate in an armed conflict outside the Russian Federation allows “do not cast a shadow” this, that the state defends some of its interests, - says the chairman of the Military Bar Association Vladimir Trignin. - If the PMC effectively solves the assigned combat missions, then it's even better, than the military. Somewhere better, so that the military does not participate, and PMCs participated”.
According to the expert, the idea of legalizing PMCs in Russia is a positive step, because people, those working in such organizations go into the legal field.
“Now they are not only, that risk their lives, they also risk their freedom, because, not being in the legal field, they can be held responsible, including on the territory of the Russian Federation”, - he says,.
“Secondly, any military activity must be regulated, checked by some regulatory organizations. There is a licensing authority, who can verify compliance with these licensing requirements, which may also include health care, life protection, implementation of guarantees for those citizens, who are employees”, - summed up Trignin.
