Young Front: “Dialogue of regime with West impossible due to repressions against youth”

Young Front organisation calls upon all civilized countries of the world prevent new revenge to one of the leaders of the organisation.

Last week a deputy chairman of the Young Front Ivan Shyla was summoned to the military commissariat. A month earlier a military medical commission after a special check-up found the youth activist unfit for service. However under a pressure of the head of Salihorsk military commissariat V. Zainchkouski В. the medical commission cancelled its decision at the supreme moment. Besides, other doctors made a conclusion that he is fit for military service without a required personal check-up and medical tests of the young man. Besides, the military commissariat said openly to the young man that he can be placed to a mental hospital because of his political activism.

The regime’s well-directed efforts to curb political and public activities of Ivan Shyla started in 2006. When the young people were on a hunger strike of protest in May-June 2006, the leader of Salihorsk “vertical of power” M. M. Amelyanchuk promised to place him “in a cage”.

In September 2007 underage Ivan Shyla was found guilty of criminal offence under the political article 193.1 “for activities on behalf of an unregistered organisation”. In June 2008 Ivan Shyla was absolutely illegally expelled from school before the last final examination, which violated his right for receiving education. Education Ministries of Estonia, Poland and Sweden offered him help in receiving education. However, going abroad would be giving in to the Belarusian regime, so the young activist refused. In May 2009 Ivan Shyla is to pass the final exam in his school, and after that he would have a possibility to continue his education in a university.

In all attempts to establish a dialogue with the West and liberalize its economical and political system, the Belarusian regime continues to act because of momentum. It can explain the attempt to isolate the young leader to the army or to a mental hospital illegally and not allow him to finish the school in Belarus.

The Young Front calls upon al civilized countries of the world prevent another reprisal over one of the leaders of the organisation. The right for education is inalienable right of every civilized society. That is why to call upon the countries of the West in their dialogue with the leadership of Belarus be primarily guided by the degree of their interlocutor’s respect to human rights. The situation with Ivan Shyla can be one of numerous catalysts in holding the dialogue with the current Belarusian authorities.