Political soldier Zmitser Khvedaruk threatened by penal battalion

• 27.01.2010, 11:57

After the commanding officers of the military unit were changed, unprecedented pressure on the young atavist is exerted.

Zmitser Khvedaruk, a Young Front activist forcibly drafted to the army, is threatened physical reprisal or sending him to a disciplinary battalion, Radio Racyja informs.

As said by Khvedaruk, the pressure increased last week, when the new commander of the military unit 18622 was appointed.

“Last week I was taken to Barysau hospital, but after I was told to make tests, I was not taken there, I was just released from work for a few days. I was not even admitted to a medical unit though I was coughing,” Khvedaruk said.

Beside that, the young activist told that over the last week threats of possible physical reprisal or sending him to a disciplinary battalion were heard by him from different persons: “You will serve here much more than a year an a half”, they said.

We remind that on January 28, 2009, Zmitser Khvedaruk was forcefully taken to a military enlistment office and then to a jail in Akrestin Street allegedly for serving punishment for taking part in a demonstration on May 1, 2008. It was found out later that there was no court decision. Nevertheless, Khvedaruk had to spend 2 days in jail. Handcuffed, he was guarded to policlinic #14 for a medical examination. The medical board found him fit for military service, though he had had a surgery on a vine a month before and had a number of chronic diseases.

Handcuffed, the “Young Front” activist was taken to military barracks in Zhodzina, though he was a student of Theological College and had an exemption from military service. He didn’t have a medical record and an identification document during the medical examination. Forcefully drafted Khvedaruk was taken to hospital several times. He was found diseases that give his a right not to serve in the army, but the youth activist has been sent to the military unit again.