Belarusian believer punished by huge fine for denial to take weapons in his hands
12- 6.11.2009, 16:27
A believer from Jehovah's Witnesses community has been punished by a huge fine. He demanded realization of his right for alternative military service.
As informed by Radio Svaboda, on November 6 a judge of Tsentralny district of Homel Ryhor Dzmitrenka found Zmitser Smyk, a member of Jehovah's Witnesses community, guilty of draft evasion and punished him by a fine of 100 basic units, which makes 3.5 mlb rubles.
By the initiative of city military enlistment office, the prosecutor’s office charges Zmitser Smyk of draft evasion.
In his turn, the believer demands to offer him alternative service, even if it would last longer than the military service. Religious believes of the young man, who is also a father of an underage daughter, do not allow him to take weapons in his hand or support army in any other way.
We remind that the criminal case against the believer was initiated after the young man demanded to realize his right for alternative military service in line with Article 57 of the Constitution of Belarus.
