Box 7.5 Legislating for the Rights of Members of the Armed Forces: Russian Federation53 Status of Military Personnel – Federal Law No. 76 of 27 May 1998 on the Status of Military Personnel Protection of the Freedoms, Honour, and Dignity of Military Personnel – Art. 5 Right to Freedom of Movement and Choice of Residence – Art. 6 Freedom of Speech, Participation in Meetings, Rallies, Demonstrations, Processions, and Picketing – Art. 7 Freedom of Conscience and Religion – Art. 8 Right to Participation in Management of Government and Public Unions – Art. 9 Right to Work – Art. 10 Service Time and Right to Rest – Art. 11 Monetary Allowance – Art. 12 Additional Payments – Art. 13 Clothing Supply – Art. 14 Right to Housing – Art. 15 Right to Health Care and Medical Aid – Art. 16 Property Rights: Tax Privileges – Art. 17 Right to Education and Rights in the Field of Arts – Art. 19 Use of Transport – Art. 20 Right to Appeal against Illegal Orders – Art. 21 Rights in Legal Proceedings – Art. 22 Social Security Rights – Art. 24 Additional Privileges during Service in a State of Emergency – Art. 25 General Duties – Art. 26 Official and Special Duties – Art. 27 Laws are especially important if the human rights of armed forces personnel are to be limited for reasons of national security. Because human rights are essential for every member of a polity, including the military, it is important that limitations on the human rights of armed forces personnel be backed up with safeguards in order to avoid abuse or otherwise unjustified limitations. 53 OSCE participating States committed themselves in the Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security54 to “reflect in their laws or other relevant documents the rights and duties of armed forces personnel” (para. 28) and to “ensure that military, paramilitary and security forces personnel will be able to enjoy and exercise their human rights and fundamental freedoms as reflected in [O]SCE documents and international law, in conformity with relevant constitutional and legal provisions and with the requirements of service” (para. 32). Where it is necessary to place restrictions on the rights of members of the armed forces, these should be clearly based on legal authority and conform to relevant treaty provisions. 53  Federal Law No. 76 of 27 May 1998 (as amended) on the Status of Military Personnel. An unofficial translation is available on the website of the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of the Armed Forces at <http:// www.dcaf.ch/_docs/eng-book/24_StatusMilPersons.pdf>. 54  OSCE Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security, 3 December 1994. 51 Handbook on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of Armed Forces Personnel