Commonwealth MPs Considered Draft Modal Law on Territorial Defense

On 10 October, under the chairmanship of member of the Committee of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on Defense Viktor Zavarzin, a meeting of the Joint Commission at the IPA CIS for the Harmonization of National Laws Related to Security, Countering Emerging Threats and Challenges was held.

The event was attended by MPs from the CIS countries, representatives of the CIS statutory bodies and sectoral cooperation bodies, educational and academic institutions and international organizations.

During the meeting, the participants discussed a number of draft Modal Laws aimed at improving the security and defense capabilities of the CIS countries. They include:

• a draft Modal Law on Navigation Support,
• a draft Recommendations on Recommendations on Identification, Accounting and Registration of Crimes Related to Human Trafficking in the CIS Member Nations,
• a draft Model Law on Countering the Use of Autonomous and Robotic Systems for Terrorist and Extremist Purposes.

Work on the draft documents agreed upon within the framework of the statutory and sectoral cooperation bodies of the IPA CIS was continued at a meeting of the IPA CIS Permanent Commission on Defense and Security Issues.

The members of the IPA CIS Permanent Commission on Defense and Security Issues heard information on the activities of the CIS Basic Organization for Research of Problems of Countering Terrorism and Other Manifestations of Extremism (FSB SRC), as well as on the work of the Office for the Coordination of the Fight Against Organized Crime and Other Dangerous Types of Crime on the Territory of the CIS Member Nations.

During the meeting, the Deputy Chairs of the Permanent Commission were elected: Chair of the Committee of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan on Defence, Security and Counter-Corruption Arzu Naghiyev; Deputy Chair of the Standing Commission of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus on National Security Alexander Barsukov; and Deputy Chair of the Committee of the Jogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic on Fuel and Energy Complex, Subsoil Use and Industrial Policy Kunduzbek Sulaimanov.

The Commission discussed the draft revised Model Law on Mobilization and Mobilization Readiness. The document takes into account the proposals of the CIS parliaments. In particular, it introduces new measures of responsibility for violation of the legislation, adds provisions on the manning of special formations during mobilization, as well as on the preparation of infrastructure for work under martial law. For the most part, the draft was approved and sent to the parliaments of the Commonwealth countries for expertise.

The members of the commission began work on a draft Model Law on Territorial Defense. Its adoption will contribute to the development of unified approaches to understanding the essence, principles and procedures for the organization of territorial defense. Work on the draft Model Law will continue.

The meeting considered a draft Model Law on Public Safety. The document is aimed at coordinating the efforts of the Commonwealth countries in the sphere of countering extremist threats.

The members of the commission were presented with the concept of the draft Model Law on Police Investigation (revised version). The need to adapt the legislation in connection with new challenges and threats related to extremism and terrorist activities was noted.

The parliamentarians also considered draft Amendments to the Model Law on Countering Terrorism. 

The next meeting of the IPA CIS Permanent Commission on Defense and Security Issues will be held in February-April 2025.