Procuracy Annulled Baltic Fleet Commander's Decree

06.06.2012 Baltic Fleet (BF) Military Procuracy annulled decree of BF Commander Viktor Chirkov (current Navy Commander-in-Chief) prohibiting servicemen to complain about pay arrears, a source in procuracy told Interfax.

"Ex-Baltic Fleet Commander VADM Viktor Chirkov issued an 'interesting' and apparently illegal decree. He demanded from subordinated military commanders to call on the carpet those servicemen who complained about pay arrears to higher authorities bypassing immediate superior in command. Moreover, the decree allowed applying disciplinary penalties against every of those servicemen", said a source in BF procuracy.

After a while, the information about such order leaked out to regional media. Military procuracy launched inquiry into the case. It was found out that the document is contrary to provisions of the Russian Constitution, Federal Laws "On processing of complaints", "On status of military servicemen", and Disciplinary Charter of Russian Armed Forces. In accordance with those legal acts, all Russian citizens including military servicemen have a right to address to any government agency or local authority. Officials are prohibited to hinder applications of servicemen and impose penalties for that, pursuit them or discriminate in service career.

As a result, BF Military Procuracy lodged a protest against the ex-commander. That protest was considered late in May, and the decree was annulled as contrary to law. As was earlier reported, in March and April servicemen of some BF military units had not received monetary allowance for over two months.

According to BF procuracy, "such decree of BF command can be easily put under doubt and even called a fake. It is unlikely today that any kind of commanding officer would venture upon such apparent violation".