Military court refused to recognize unlawful Vyachorka’s draft into army

• 12.05.2009, 13:46

The Belarusian military court upheld a decision of the inter-garrison military court saying forceful drafting of young leader Franak Vyachorka into the army allegedly agrees with the law.

In late January, head of “The Youth of BPF” Franak Vyachorka was caught in the street by unknown people and guarded to the Savetski district military enlistment office of Minsk. The guy was beaten there, handcuffed, and guarded to army barracks in Baranavichy, Radio Svaboda reports.

On February 7, Vyachorka took the oath and continued military service in Mozyr, thought has medical exemption from military service.

Franak Vyachorka noted in his statement that when he underwent a medical examination in hospital, people in mufti burst into the ward and guarded him to the military enlistment office. The youth leader complained against the actions by military officers. The drafting campaign was suspended until consideration of the complaint, but a trial was carried out in absentia, and Vyachorka wasn’t told about its results.

Franak Vyachorka is not the only oppositionist unlawfully call up for military service. In late January “Young Front” artists Ivan Shyla and Zmitser Khvedaruk were forcefully drafted into the army.