8 Belarus citizens serve as contractors in Russian army

295 foreign nationals, including 8 Belarusians, serve as contractors in the Russian army, Col.-Gen. Vasiliy Smirnov, a deputy chief of the Russian General Staff said in a statement.  Apart from Belarusians, there are the following nationals of the former Soviet republics: 12 -- Kazakhstan; 22 -- Azerbaijan: 22 -- Armenia: 1 -- Georgia: 11 -- Kyrgistan: 17 -- Moldova: 89 -- Tadjikistan: 66 -- Uzbekistan: 9 -- Turkmenistan: 9 -- Ukraine.

Foreign nationals are allowed to sign a service contract with the Russian armed forces. Under the Russian laws, they are eligible to appalying for the Russian citizneship after three years of service, reports the Russian news agency Interfax