Franak Vyachorka: “I was arrested by officers of president’s security service”

“An order to detain me was received from above,” the leader of “The Youth of the BPF” told in an interview to the Charter’97 press center.

“I was leaving my house, 50 meters from the house, four men run up to me– three ones in mufti and one was probably a district militia officer. They twisted my arms and pulled into a car. The district officer disappeared, and I found myself in the company of three men of 25-30 years old. I asked where they were going to take me. They said we were driving to the military enlistment office,” the politician tells.

According to Franak Vyachorka, these people were not officers of the military enlistment office, because they didn’t even know where to go. An order to arrest Vyachorka was received from “above”.

“They weren’t officers of the military enlistment office, they didn’t even know where the military office is situated, I showed the way. They were officers of the president’s security service. One of them said ‘order is order,’” the youth leader comments on his detention.

Franak Vyachorka was given a summons, he must go to the Republican Military Hospital tomorrow.

“Captain Bykau tried to give me a summons, but I refused to take it, as it was in Russian. They translate it into Belarusian and handed it to me. I must go to the Republican Military Hospital for medical examination tomorrow, though I have received draft deferment. They hardly will make a right diagnosis, because this hospital is subordinated to the Ministry of Defense. Last time I was examined there, and diagnosis was falsified,” Franak Vyachorka explains.

“I received three deferments, but they were cancelled on an order from above,” the politician reminded.

In October, the leader of “The Youth of the BPF” was forcefully put to military hospital for medical examination. Franak Vyachorka went to a doctor of the military hospital. As he entered the cabinet, he was taken away his things, given military uniform and put to the traumatology department.

The district military commission found Franak unfit for service and gave him a six-month deferment. The military enlistment office ordered the republican hospital to check the diagnosis.

“I have flat feet of II-III degree and scoliosis of II degree. Diagnoses were corrected in the military hospital – flat feet of I-II degree, scoliosis of I degree. All doctors admitted it wasn’t’ their decision to change the diagnoses, but it was received from above,” Franak Vyachorka told in an interview to the Charter’97 press center.

So, the activist can b formally found able-bodied for military service. But Franak Vyachorka linked this decision to political persecution.

“I was expelled from university. I applied for the European Humanities University in Vilnius, but I can’t go there to have examination session as I am on the list of restricted to travel abroad,” Vyachorka explains.

This year, some youth activist, expelled from education institutions, were drafted fro army, among them are member of the Belarusian Popular Front Zmitser Zhaleznichenka and head of “The Youth of the BPF” Ales Kalita. Head of Smarhon branch if the Youth of the BPF Zmitsre Byalyaeu and activist of the “For Freedom” movement and former MP candidate Vital Karatysh are serving in the army, too.