The doctors of the conscription boards in Krasnoyarsk region affirm with confidence that "homosexuality is not a diagnosis but is a result of mental disorder which is not difficult for a doctor to detect". This statement was made by Dr. Tatiana Drozdova, a chief medical officer of the Soviet and Central districts' military registration and enlistment office in Krasnoyarsk and her words were quoted by information agency "AiF-Enisey".

According to the words of Dr. Drozdova, "mentally ill "homosexuals" are being sent to an extra medical examination". Dr. Drozdova stresses that "it is obvious for a doctor of the medical commission of conscription board whether a conscript invents his homosexuality or not". But at the same time she wandered away from giving an answer to the question whether in her medical practice she had a chance to examine "mentally healthy" gays who, we would like to remind you, under the directives of the Russian Defence ministry, are obliged to serve in the army.

For several years during the time when conscription is going on the issue of conscripts homosexuality is being perceived only as a subject for scandals and speculations in the tabloids. Constantly reveals the fact that medical commissions do whatever they can to avoid usage of the International classification of diseases, adopted by the World Health Organisation. But then everywhere local authorities affirm that "homosexuality may be a result of mental disorder or may accompany a number of mental diseases".

It's worth reminding that in spring 2007 during a live transmission of "Autoradio-Krasnoyarsk" radio station in his answer to the question of a gay conscript who had telephoned the radio station and had asked the question on live transmission, Mr.Nikolai Ivchenko, the Head of military registration and enlistment office of Krasnoyarsk region officially declared that "doctors are able to shift sexual orientation of conscripts". "You should go to the doctor and not bother us... The doctor will determine that you are a gay... I think that you need to go to the army where you will change your sexual orientation", - said Mr. Ivchenko. Unidentified conscript parried that it was impossible to change or shift the orientation. "I live with it and my parents know that I am a gay", - said the conscript. "Believe me", - firmly answered the representative of the Russian Defence ministry, "orientation will change... Everything will be okay, young man", - stressed Mr.Ivchenko.

Translated by Yerdna Bananes