Human rights activists: Recruitment of youth leaders resembles arbitrary arrests

On February 7, Ivan Shyla, Zmitser Khvedaruk, and Franak Vyachorka wil take the oath. Belarusian human rights activists are keeping a close eye on the youth leaders and preparing complaints to international human rights organizations.

“At the moment, we can’t get in touch with the soldiers,” Uladzimir Labkovich, member of BPF Soim and famous human rights activist, told the Charter’97 press center. “They are kept in ‘quarantine’ before the oath. We are gathering information about them, we know that Zmitser Khvedaruk was threatened in the military army for speaking Belarusian. Human rights activists continue to regard drafting of activists into army as unlawful actions of the authorities. Such recruitment resembles arbitrary arrests.”

The human rights defender thinks threats against “Young Front” activist Zmitser Khvedaruk should be considered as discrimination for speaking Belarusian.

“If there was a threat,” Uladzimir Labkovich says,” we deal with language discrimination. We must go to law with a civil claim. The Belarusian authorities have undertaken obligations to guarantee human rights in the country. It is not the first case when Belarusian-speaking people have faced discrimination in Belarus. If I were Khvedaruk, I would appeal to the minister of defense. In any case, we are ready to help him in preparing necessary documents.”

It should be reminded that according to Artur Finkevich, leader of the “Young Belarus” movement, major Uladzimir Kisel, army doctor in military unit #18662 in Zhodzina, refused to examine forcefully drafted “Young Front” activist Zmitser Khvedaruk. He also told soldiers to give the guy a lesson and explain him what consequences he may meet if he continues speaking Belarusian.

“The tactics, when the army is used as a punitive measure, is new for us,” the human rights activist explains. “Trial over Franak Vyachorka proves that the law doesn’t defend human rights in Belarus. Franak Vyachorka was drafted into army with gross violations of the law. Human rights activist don’t trust the results of medical examinations. It is unclear why the secret services took part in the drafting campaign. We are appealing to international human rights organizations now.”

It should be reminded that Franak Vyachorka had a determent due to eye surgery and some chronic diseases. But he was forced to appear before another medical board which found him fir for military service. On January 17, Franak Vyachorka appealed against the actions of officers and doctors to court. In spite of medical problems, the court found Franak Vyachorka fit for military service.

On January 28, youth leaders Franak Vyachorka and Ivan Shyla were caught in Minks and guarded to military units. On the same day, “Young Front” activist Zmitser Khvedaruk was detained and guarded to the prison in Akrestsin Street, where he had to spend two days. He was guarded to hospital, where doctors admitted him fit for military service. On January 30, Khvedaruk was sent to mobility forces right from the prison.