BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS
DATE:
11/02/2008
Belarusian Court Suspends Military Service Of Opposition Youth
A Homel district court has suspended the military service of Dzmitry Zhaleznichenka, a member of Belarusian Popular Front, who was recently expelled from Homel State University and hastily drafted into the army, Belapan reported on February 8. The court upheld an appeal filed by Zhaleznichenka's mother against the Homel district military recruitment board. Meanwhile, Zhaleznichenka remains with his military unit, since the recruitment board that drafted him dissolved after fulfilling its mission and now it is unclear who should carry out the court's ruling. Zhaleznichenka on February 9 refused to take the military oath, insisting that his recruitment was unlawful. "I did not take the oath, so that they will not be able to accuse me of losing some gun and prosecute me," Zhaleznichenka said. "I do not refuse to serve my people, but I will do this legally, when, for instance, I am drafted upon graduation from university," he said. AM
Source:
http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2008/02/3-cee/cee-110208.asp
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