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12.04.2010, Ivan Serebro, soldier of the military unit 52500, submitted an appeal to the Ministry of Defense with a demand to let him a possibility to implement alternative service.

“I’ve heard of alternative service before, but only being at the military already I found out that the Law on Alternative Service is going to be drafted. I know that alternative service means, in the first place, hard work, and the term of such service is usually bigger than that of military service. However, I am going to insist on implementation of alternative service. I think this will be of a better use – both to the people, and to me personally” – Ivan Serebro commented upon his decision.

According to Ivan, there are several other soldiers of the same military unit that were going to submit appeals for alternative service, but they gave up this idea under the pressure from the command of the military unit.
Ivan Serebro is the fifth young man over the last half a year who is striving for his right to alternative civilian service.

Appeals of Dzmitry Smyk, Andrei Tsianuta, Ivan Mikhailau and Yauheny Yakavenka preceded Ivan Serebro’s appeal.

Andrei Tsianuta was agains his will recruited to the military in September 2009, a civil case regarding legal force of activity of the recruiting committee is being considered by the Supreme Court of Belarus.

Dzmitry Smyk and Ivan Mikhailau were both criminally prosecuted on draft evasion (November 2009 and February 2010, consequently). Their cases received broad public and international response, as a result, accusation verdicts were withdrawn and cases submitted for new consideration.

Yauheni Yakavenka was sentenced to an administrative fee upon the same charges (and later charges were withdrawn) and at the present is being accused with evading military service in a criminal case.

Monitoring group of the
Public Campaign “For Alternative Civilian Service in Belarus”
www.ags.by