News on the topic: alternative civilian service
23.07.2010 Human rights defenders: granting parole to Yauhen Yakavenka doesn’t solve his problem
On 23 July the panel of judges on criminal cases of the Homel Region Court headed by Judge Liudmila Hrynko, amnestied Yauhen Yakavenka, a member of the Belarusian Christian Democracy , conscientious objector to the military service.
16.07.2010 Homel Region Court upholds acquittal of Dzmitry Smyk. Yauhen Yakavenka’s cassation complaint is pending
On 16 July, the panel of judges of the Homel Region Court considered the protest of the procuracy against the verdict of the Tsentralny District Court of Homel acquitting the Jehowah’s Witness Dzmitry Smyk of draft-dodging (Article 435 of the Criminal Code) and left the verdict standing.
15.07.2010 Procuracy opposes acquittal of Dzmitry Smyk
On 16 July, the panel of judges of the Homel Region Court will consider the protest of the procuracy against the verdict of the Tsentralny District Court of Homel acquitting the conscientious objector Dzmitry Smyk of draft-dodging.
15.06.2010 Court dismisses prosecutor's protest against acquittal of Ivan Mikhailau
On 15 June the Minsk Region Court considered the cassation appeal of the state accuser, L.Daubniuk, against the acquittal of Ivan Mikhailau by the Minsk District Court, and left the verdict of the lower court standing, thus taking the side of the defendant.
10.06.2010 Counsel Hrabouski: verdict to Yakavenka was copied from prosecutor's ruling
On 9 June, lawyer Yauhen Hrabouski familiarized with a copy of the verdict to his client, conscientious objector Yauhen Yakavenka, who has been recently punished by the Tsentralny District Court of Homel with 1 year of personal restraint with direction to an open penitentiary institution.
04.06.2010 Belarusian human rights defenders informed Amnesty International about sentence to Yauhen Yakavenka
On 4 June, Tatsiana Shvets, Judge of the Tsentralny District Court of Homel, sentenced Yauhen Yakavenka, an activist of the organizing committee of the Party of Belarusian Christian Democracy, to a year of personal restraint for 'evasion from military service'. Mr. Yakavenka was released till the enforcement of the sentence under a written undertaking not to leave. The activist and his counsel, Yauhen Hrabouski, disagree with the verdict and stated they would appeal against it.
25.05.2010 Civil service in Belarus?
Will a bill on alternative service be passed in Belarus? An international forum on the issue is being held in Minsk, Radio Racyja reports. Its aim is to foster the solution of the issue by encouraging the Belarusian Parliament members to consider the introduction of the civil service in the near future. The forum, arranged by Mikhas Pashekvich, leader of the campaign 'For Alternative Civil Service in Belarus', is attended by representatives of NGOs from the majority CIS countries.
13.05.2010 Homel: trials of conscientious objectors resumed
On 12 May the Tsentralny District Court of Homel resumed the consideration of the administrative cases against a Jehovah’s Witness Dzmitry Smyk and Yauhen Yakavenka, an activist of the organizing committee of the Belarusian Christian Democracy Party. Both of them are charged with evasion from military service.
04.05.2010 Believer Ivan Mikhailau acquitted
On 4 May in the morning the Minsk District Court announced the verdict on the criminal case instigated against Ivan Mikhailau, who allegedly evaded from military service. Judge Viachaslau Tupeika acquitted Mikhailau, who had been previously sentenced to 3 months of jail for evading from military service.
09.04.2010 Homel: Yauhen Yakavenka justified
On 8 April 2010 the Savetski district court in Homel justified Yauhen Yakavenka, 25, who was charged with non-coming to events connected to drafting into the army.
19.02.2010 Alternative civilian service: criminal persecution instead of law
Despite the fact that drafting of the law on alternative service has been initiated by President Lukashenka, officers of military enlistment offices continue the drafting of the people whom they consider as evading from military service.
11.02.2010 Homel: draftee Yauhen Yakavenka fined
On 11 February Alena Dzichkouskaya, Judge of the Savetski district court in Homel, fined draftee Yauhen Yakavenka 175 000 rubles (about $60) for non-coming to ‘drafting measures’ on 29 February without a good excuse, in which he was accused by the city draft board.
18.11.2009 ‘Right not to Shoot’ campaign launched
According to the UCPB’ press-service, as part of the ‘Right not to Shoot’ civil campaign, a number of Young Democrats activists, including Fiodar Maslennikau, Aliaksandr Siarheyenka and Aliaksandr Stsepanenka, distributed leaflets among students of Minsk universities, covering the issue of the alternative service and its future in Belarus. According to a preliminary public opinion poll, 56% of Minsk students have never heard of the type of service and 78% say they would like Belarusian youth to have a right to choose between the traditional and the alternative types of service.
