October 20, 2008	Monday	Shawwal 20, 1429

MOSCOW: Russian army officers’ pay will soar under a modernisation plan, the head of Russia’s general staff said about reforms which aim to improve morale and drive out corruption that has undermined the Soviet-style military.

Army general Nikolai Makarov was giving details in media interviews of the country’s most radical military reforms yet, which were announced last week and follow Russia’s brief war in Georgia in August.

“If we optimise, we can exponentially increase pay, which is very low for officers and contract soldiers serving in our army,” Makarov said.

Interfax and Vesti television quoted Makarov as saying on Saturday a lieutenant would earn at least 70,000 roubles per month ($2,700 at current exchange rates) within three years after the number of officers in the army is halved.

Most of Russia’s officer corps survives on pay that falls below the national average of about 16,000 roubles per month.

A lieutenant colonel, the deputy commander of a mechanised infantry brigade and a graduate of a top Russian military academy, make less than 15,000 roubles per month.—Reuters