Defense ministry issues service regulations in Belarusian language (photo+video)

The Defense Ministry of Belarus has issued 350 copies of service regulations in the Belarusian language. But only the Guard of Honor Company will have to apply during their service. Aleh Trusau, the chairman of the Belarusian Language Society says it is illegal. The defense ministry recently received from a printing house a book with the services regulations translated into the Belarusian language. This book that comprises various service regulations is on the way to the military units and stations, Defense spokesman Vacheslau Remanchyk told Euroradio. "These service regulations will be sent to all military stations for familiarization. They will be implemented only by the Guards of Honors in the Belarusian language", he said.

Aleh Trusau, the chairman of the Belarusian Language Society says the Belarusian-language service regulations will allow soldiers to use theiir native tongue in the army eventually. "We will start studying these regulations wih the youth of the Belarusian Language SOciety. We will appeal to draftees so that they demand that commands in the Belarusian language are used. Moreover, nobody will be able to ban using these service regulations since they have already come out", he said..



But the defense ministry has a different point of view. Remenchyk said it deliberately that all units and stations, apart from the Guards of Honor, would receive the regulations for familialization only. According to the defense ministry spokesman, commanding officers will not be able to use them even if they really want to.

This statement outraged the chairman of the Belarusian Language Society. "Who has determined that?", he lamented. "The Law on Languages sets out that two languages -- Belarusian and Russian -- are used in our army. The separation of the languages is not defined by any decree. Let him (Remenchyk) display such a signed decree he is talking about. Then, I will file a lawsuit with the Constitutional Court immediately after receiving such a document".

That's why soldies can easily demand to be commanded in Belarusian. If officers refuse, soldiers can write complaints to the defense minister and prosecutor general, despite the fact that the linguist has some remarks over the quality of the translation.


















Trusau is going to write another letter to the defense minister to express gratitude for the work done and to propose some improvements in translations.



Photo and video b Zmitse Lukashuk