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On April 8, 2010, Court of Soviet Region of Gomel discharged claims against Yauheni Yakavenka (25 y.o.) who was accused of failure to appear to draft activities to military service.

On February 11, 2010, Yauheni Yakavenka was found guilty of violation of Art. 25.1.3 of the Administrative Code of the Republic of Belarus in failure to appear to draft activities to military service and sentenced to a fee equivalent to USD 60.

Yauheni Yakavenka did not plead guilty, he demanded that all charges be withdrawn from him and right to alternative service provided.

On March 12, 2010, Gomel Oblast Court nullified the decision of the Soviet Region Court and submitted the case for a new consideration.

Nevertheless, a criminal case on Art. 435.1 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus (“evasion from activities on draft to the military service”) that has been initiated against Yakavenka, and has already been submitted into court.

“No doubt that the fact I was discharged in the administrative case is a plus. But whether this will influence consideration of the criminal case – it is too early to say. Though I hope, of course, to be acquitted in this case as well. But we cannot know what position the court would take” – Yakavenka commented.

This decision of the Soviet Region Court of Gomel is a first decision on acquittal in a range of cases initiated against young people who demanded alternative service. The hearing on Ivan Mikhailau that was to take place today, on April 9, 2010 is again postponed to one week and will take place on April 17. Dzmitry Smyk is also awaiting new consideration of his case.

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