Zhaleznichenka to serve in the army without oath

Zmitser Zhaleznichenka, expelled from Homel University after participation in oppositional movement became known, continues doing his military service, and as before refuses to take the oath for service.

Recently he has been visited by his mother, Ala Zhaleznichenka. As said by her, army commanders are treating Zmitser more cruelly than other soldiers, RFE/RL informs.

‘When I meet with Zmitser, other soldiers can sit and talk with their parents quietly. And he was ordered to register every half an hour, as if he could run away over that period. There is a problem with letters delivery. For instance, there is a stamp that the letter has been sent on March 14, and it is received on March 25.’

According to Colonel Viachaslau Ramenchyk, the Defense Ministry representative, ‘Zhaleznichenka ‘is serving in the army in line with the law on military service. That is why he will stay in the army for the whole term, even if he won’t take the oath.’

Mikalai Statkevich, a politician, a retired lieutenant colonel, believes that in the situation with Zhaleznichenka the Belarusian army ‘is once again used for preventing democratic activists from taking part in social activities’.

Meanwhile, on April 10 Homel regional court is to consider cassation appeal of Zmitser Zhaleznichenka against his expelling from Homel University. Earlier the court of Tsentralny district of Homel dismissed such an appeal, explaining that decision by the fact that the administration of the university acted upon internal regulations of their institution.

Zmitser Zhaleznichenka is a member of the Belarusian Popular Front party. He has been studying at mathematics faculty until December 2007. On 25 January the young man was called for military service. He refused to take the oath of allegiance protesting against that decision.