MOSCOW, November 24 (Itar-Tass) — The Russian Defense Ministry has categorically denied media reports that the top brass allegedly made a decision to transfer 40,000 officers to new positions by the yearend.
The defense ministry has made no decision to transfer 40,000 officers to new positions by the year's end. Over the past two years the rotation of servicemen has been carried out on a scheduled basis only, the ministry’s press service said.
The practice of a territorial transfer of the officers’ contingent to different military positions always existed in the armed forces and is accepted by all the world armies, the press service explained. In the framework of rotation officers are appointed either to higher or similar posts for purposes of upgrading their professional qualification and career growth, the press service said.
In connection with wage increases to servicemen, which takes effect as of January 1, 2012, the number of servicemen who want to continue military service in areas of extreme Far North and other remote territories considerably increased, it explained. The law "On wages and subsidies to servicemen" of November 7, 2011 envisages considerable bonuses to servicemen in such regions, which might improve the financial status of their families, the defense ministry said.
The defense ministry's statement came in the wake of a publication in one of central newspapers that a decision had allegedly been adopted to transfer around 40,000 officers to new places of military service. The newspaper claims that the officers were allegedly made to make a choice between the two options: either they move on or leave the military service altogether.