Belarus soldier gets political asylum in Lithuania

Lithuania grants political asylum to Belarus soldier Sciapan Zacharcanka who can now live in European Union for five years.

Mr Zacharcanka told the Lithuanian internet portal 15min he had been officially notifed about the decision by Lithuanian Department of Migration on March 15.

Mr Zacharcanka deserted his military unit near Minsk in the summer of 2011 and fled to Lithuania. The young man claimed he decided to desert because he refused to sign a paper agreeing to use force and arms against civilians in case of mass protests. He was badly beaten for that, Mr Zacharcanka claimed.