Picket Against Deferment Law Takes Place In Minsk

The picket took place in Tuchinski Square.

ProtestBy activists held their first picket against the law on the abolition of deferrals from the army. The picket took place in Tuchinski Square, and was streamed in the movement's Instagram account. The event was agreed with the local authorities, BelaPAN reports.

Four people took part in the picket. They were holding posters "To serve, to serve and to serve," and chanted the slogan "Learning is more important!"

"In order to fully master one' s specialty, one should study at two levels (Bachelor and Master - note). Now they try to convince us that the magistracy is not obligatory and never was. They just take away a piece of knowledge from us," - an activist said.

The picket lasted about 20 minutes. Doctors and law enforcement officers in civilian clothes were present at the scene.

The law "On Changing the Laws on the Effective Functioning of the State Military Organization" was signed by Aliaksandr Lukashenka on July 24. The document envisions a deferment from military service for general secondary education, as well as an one-time deferment for the first education, allowing to get a specialty or profession. Thus, graduates of professional and technical schools will have to serve in the army before studying at the university and graduates of universities - bachelors will have to serve in the army before studying for a master's degree or taking a post-graduate course.