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Russian lawmakers propose creating private military companies

Private military and security companies could specialize in providing military and security services to the state, individuals and legal entities on a contract basis

Russian State Duma ITAR-TASS/Stanislav Krasilnikov

Russian State Duma

© ITAR-TASS/Stanislav Krasilnikov

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MOSCOW, October 22. /TASS/. A Just Russia Party has submitted a bill to the State Duma, Russia’s lower house of parliament, on establishing private military and security companies (PMCs) in Russia.

The PMCs could specialize in providing military and security services to the state, individuals and legal entities on a contract basis, in line with the initiative proposed by lawmaker Gennady Nosovko.

In particular, the military services include “mine clearance on the territories and at buildings, armed escort of sea vessels and alternative settlement of armed conflicts outside Russia.”

The companies could also render security services to state institutions, military facilities, commercial vessels, high-ranking officials and escort columns and convoys.

The private contractors will have the right to use physical force, special means and firearms.

The document has been drafted taking into consideration the international practice, namely in the United States where private military companies have been operating successfully, the party says.

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