Ivan Shyla in army threatened with disciplinary battalion

Ivan Shyla, forcefully drafted into army “Young Front” activist, suffers pressure from the commanders of the military unit.

Radio Svaboda learnt this from youth leader Ivan Shyla’s father.

“Firstly, he is accused of being a pretender and being ill too often. Secondly, they are trying to blame him for reading such “provocative” editions as “Nasha Niva” newspaper and “Arche” magazine. Ivan’s talks with soldiers are called political activity, he is threatened with a disciplinary battalion. They say his activity is political, which is unlawful, so, they need to take measures,” he says.

Ivan Shyla was examined at hospital in Lepel. He complained at backache and sore throat, he had felt before the drafting. Ivan Shyla spent most part of his service in the medical unit.

Preliminary hearing of an appeal against the decision of the draft board, permitted to call up Ivan Shyla without a medical examination, is to take place In Salihorsk today. According to Uladzimir Shyla, the commanders of the military unit hide this information from Ivan.