Belarusian House Of So-Called Representatives Adopts SMS-Drafts Law

It provides tougher punishment for evaders.

On February 28, the "deputies" of the "House of Representatives" adopted in the second reading the draft law "On Amendments to Laws on Ensuring National Security". It includes many important changes regarding military service and mobilization, Zerkalo reports.

The bill was introduced by the chairman of the "Standing Committee on National Security" Aleh Belokonev. He noted that the document honestly provides for "establishing the possibility of informing citizens about the need to appear in the military commissariat, the state security body through SMS messages."

In addition, the bill strengthens administrative liability for offenses against the order of registration of citizens at conscription offices, conscription and military registration, and also gives military commissars the right to restrict the departure from Belarus of citizens who "violate the duties of military registration and evade conscription measures."

In fact, military conscription offices have such a right now, but with one difference. The current law refers to those who evade conscription for "military service, service in the reserve", and now it will be "from conscription for and performing military obligations". Military obligation is a broader concept that includes all types of service — both military (directly serving in the army), and reserve service, and calls for military and special training during reserve service. In short, it seems that now military conscription offices will be able to impose bans on travelling abroad in general in any case of absence or non-fulfillment of the obligations.

The bill still needs to be approved by the "Council of the Republic".