Zmitser Zhaleznichenka refuses from military oath
Zmitser Zhalyaznichenka, an activist with the young wing of the Belarusian Popular Front, has refused to pledge loyalty to the Belarus armed forces. In a telephone interview with the European Radio for Belarus, he said: “There was a swear-in ceremony today. All those who swore have been given a day off. I did not take the oath, so I was only allowed to walk around the military unit. They must have released me from service long time ago. But, they don't do it on the grounds that the draft commission allegedly adjourned in January and would not be gathered again to sign an order which would exempt me from miltary service. However, there is a ruling of the court which must be observed. If the draft commission violates it, they will find it worse at the end of the day”.
Zmitser said those who refuse to swear are not supposed to be subjected to criminal prosecution. However, he would be deprived of free time outside of the unit. In terms of health conditions, he says he is getting fine.
Zmitser Zhaleznichenka: “We have a lot of exercise, doing runs and jumps… I am doing fine”.
Zmitser Zhaleznichenka, 20, one of the best students at the Homel State University, was expelled in order to end up drafted for the railway troops in the the town of Zhlobin. He spent several days on a hunger strike to protest the illegal draft and demanded to serve in a Belarusian-language unit. There is no such a unit in Belarus.
Zmitser could have finished his service on February 1, when Homel's Soviet Court suspended his draft. The court ruled that he was drafted in violation of procedures, because he was deferred due to health reasons.
However, the military authorities have refused to revoke his draft on the grounds that the draft commission was dissolved on January 31 while the court's ruling is dated February 1.
Zmitser said those who refuse to swear are not supposed to be subjected to criminal prosecution. However, he would be deprived of free time outside of the unit. In terms of health conditions, he says he is getting fine.
Zmitser Zhaleznichenka: “We have a lot of exercise, doing runs and jumps… I am doing fine”.
Zmitser Zhaleznichenka, 20, one of the best students at the Homel State University, was expelled in order to end up drafted for the railway troops in the the town of Zhlobin. He spent several days on a hunger strike to protest the illegal draft and demanded to serve in a Belarusian-language unit. There is no such a unit in Belarus.
Zmitser could have finished his service on February 1, when Homel's Soviet Court suspended his draft. The court ruled that he was drafted in violation of procedures, because he was deferred due to health reasons.
However, the military authorities have refused to revoke his draft on the grounds that the draft commission was dissolved on January 31 while the court's ruling is dated February 1.
