The United People\'s Party of Soldiers\' Mothers held its founding congress on 7 November at which Valentina Melnikova was elected as leader. The new party is based on the nongovernmental Soldiers\' Mothers Committee, which has existed for 15 years. One member of the group told NTV that \"All the politicians whom we\'ve backed during elections -- once our good name has helped them into office – have turned their backs on us.\" In an interview with \"Russkii kurer\" on 5 November, Melnikova said that the party is \"not satisfied with what is happening in Russia in the sector of human rights and socioeconomic rights.\" \"The health sector is collapsing, and war is another problem,\" she declared. But the group\'s main goal, according to Melnikova, is to reform the armed forces and end conscription. Congress delegates unanimously condemned the proposal by Prosecutor-General Vladimir Ustinov to seize the families of terrorists. Melnikova explained to reporters that \"Restricting the freedom of innocent people and holding them to blame for their relatives\' actions is an attempt to turn modern politics into Stalinism.\" (RIA-Novosti)