
The State Duma or lower house of the Russian parliament passed in the third and final reading today a law enabling military servicemen, including draftees, to sign short-term contracts, RBC reported, citing Interfax.
The law was introduced last month as we reported.
The law now goes to the Federation Council for a vote that will likely pass, then to President Vladimir Putin to be signed into a law.
The intiaitive comes as Russian state TV confirms for the first time that Russian special forces are fighting on the ground in Syria.
-- Catherine A. Fitzpatrick
Gazeta believes that the Kremlin will not mind much if the World Cup is canceled because it can pose as a victim of "politicized" actions by the West. Aside from the Olympics and some soccer games, says Gazeta, Russians do not attend sports events of various types in large numbers. The 2016 Ice Hockey World Championship lost money, even though hockey is likely Russia's most popular sport.
-- Catherine A. Fitzpatrick