Azerbaijan, Baku, 4 March / corr Trend I.Alizade / Analysis of complaints addressed to the Ombudsman from the military testifies to violation of the charter in some military units, Elmira Suleymanova, the Azerbaijani Ombudsman, said in a Parliamentary meeting of on 4 March while delivering her report on the results of 2007.
The Ombudsman said that along with damaging the image of the army, it also creates distrust among the youth of conscription age.
Suleymanova said that complaints addressed last year were linked to privileges for the military; problems with provision of apartments, violation of the law and shortages during military service, unrealistic wages in correlation to the cost of living; violation of the military charter as a result of violation of interior rules.
The Ombudsman said that the issue of compensation to officers in reserve from the Defense Ministry should be solved. She appealed to the relevant state bodies in respect to this, calling them to strengthen measures in preventing non-Charter treatment, violence and violations of military content.
The Ombudsman said that she is very concerned about injury and death to soldiers, which are not related to military operations.
"Shortages in the organization of legal and education work, absence of requirements on people responsible for observation of order provide a basis for non-charter, Suleymanova said.
Suleymanova spoke about complaints on problems while demobilizing people serving on a contract basis as warrant officers.
The Ombudsman also noted details of bribery in the army, where officers demand money from soldiers. "In case that soldiers protest against this, illegal action, including humiliation of honor and dignity made against such people. Such action encourages corruption, which is mainly by commanders."
The Ombudsman stressed the importance of adopting a draft law preventing the call up of people suffering from psychological disorders, drug use, tuberculosis and AIDS to military service, and to offer medical aid to military personnel suffering from these diseases.