The regulations approved by the State Duma envisage the detention of servicemen for disciplinary violations and temporary confinement in isolation cells for up to 30 days, and in certain cases up to 45 days.
Disciplinary isolation cells in the army were banned in summer 2002, as decisions to confine servicemen were usually made by commanding officers, in breach of the Constitution.
According to the regulations set out in the bill, decisions to detain servicemen must be made in line with military regulations, by a military garrison court judge. A serviceman has the right to a lawyer, and to appeal the court's decision.
The set of laws also state that only junior male servicemen can be confined in disciplinary isolation cells, while officers and female servicemen cannot.
The laws are expected to come into force on January 1, 2007 if they receive the approval of the upper house, the Federation Council, and the president.
