19 March 2024, Tuesday, 12:09
Support
the website
Sim Sim,
Charter 97!
Categories

Independent Journalist Fighting For His Right Not To “Wear Combat Boots”

1
Independent Journalist Fighting For His Right Not To “Wear Combat Boots”
ALIAKSANDR BURAKOU

Draftee Aliaksandr Burakou has appealed the decisions of the military enlistment commissions in court.

Independent journalist from Mahiliou Aliaksandr Burakou, together with human rights defender Barys Bukhel, have filed an appeal against the decisions of the city and district military enlistment commissions, the human rights center “Viasna” informs.

—Of course I disagree with the decision that I am “partially fit for military service”, as before. I have arguments which prove my rightness with regard to which clause I am a subject of – “unfit in the peaceful times” or “partially fit”. I will not speak much of it now, I’d better leave it till the court proceeding,” — Aliaksandr Burakou has commented.

He does not exclude the possibility of provocations from the military enlistment office.

— I told before that, both times when I attended the selection they rejected me. Despite this, the military enlistment office issued a call-paper to dispatch on May 26. I filed an appeal to the court – according to the Law on Military Conscription, the decision of the military enlistment commission has been suspended so they must not send me anywhere. However, I do understand the logics of the military men so I do not exclude that on May 26 I would have visitors like somebody from the military enlistment office, accompanied by police officers, and they will forcibly deliver me to the dispatch spot. Also, I do not exclude that they could set the date of the court proceeding in some couple of days from now, to make sure they could “solve the issue” before the dispatch, — the draftee says.

Human rights defender Barys Bukhel, who is working with Burakou’s case, sees a certain political aspect in the situation:

— The attempt to draft him in the army remains illegal, and this is obvious judging from the medical evidence reflected in the documents that we have, and the official requirements to a draftee’s health. The political undertone is clearly seen here. In this case, the authorities take advantage of the draft campaign, using it as an instrument of political pressure. In view of the upcoming electoral campaign it looks important to isolate one of the few independent journalists in Mahiliou, as there are not many of them here. We strongly believe the law is on our side. They violate – we complain, — Barys Bukhel has said.

Write your comment 1

Follow Charter97.org social media accounts