EVASION OF CONSCRIPTION IS PUNISHABLE BY LAW

Article 57 of the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus states that the defense of the Republic of Belarus is the duty and sacred obligation of a citizen of the Republic of Belarus. The procedure for military service, the grounds and conditions for exemption from military service or its alternative are determined by law.

Avoidance of military service is punishable by law.

According to the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus, avoidance of call-up activities for military service is subject to liability under Article 435. According to the sanctions of the first part of this article, the evader may face penalties in the form of a fine, arrest, restriction of freedom, as well as imprisonment for up to two years. The second part of Article 435 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus (avoidance of call-up activities for military service committed by intentionally causing bodily harm to oneself, simulating illness, or falsifying documents or other deception) provides for penalties in the form of restriction of freedom or imprisonment for up to five years.

The crimes provided for in Article 435 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus are frequently committed by residents of the Braslaŭ district.

Thus, in March 2017, a resident of Braslaŭ, K., was convicted under part 1 of Article 435 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus for repeatedly avoiding appearance at the military enlistment office during the call-up campaign and refusing to undergo a medical examination.

By the court's verdict, K. was found guilty of avoiding call-up activities for military service and, based on part 1 of Article 435 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus, was sentenced to a fine of 100 basic units.