Human rights activists welcome amnesty of Yauhen Yakavenka and demand guarantees for him

A prisoner of conscience Yakavenka has been amnestied and relieved from criminal responsibility. He had been sentenced to 1 year of restriction of freedom for “evasion from military service”, Radio Svaboda informs.

The release of Yakavenka is a positive move; however there is still no alternative service in Belarus. It means that the young man can be called up to the army again. Experts of Amnesty International believe that the authorities should guarantee the right of Yauhen Yakavenka for military service denial, for him not to be punished for his convictions again.