Political prisoner Pavel Syarhei receives threats of criminal prosecution

• 27.11.2012, 10:48

Young Front member Pavel Syarhei, who says he refuses to take the military oath on religious motives, may face criminal prosecution.  

Pavel, who now serves in the army, report that he considers his call-up to be illegal and politically motivated. He says he won't take the military oath. The management of military unit No. 51171 in Hrodna began to threaten him with a criminal case for draft dodging, but gave him two weeks “to think” before taking the oath, Viasna human rights centre reports.

He was told he would be moved to railway troops if he refused to take the oath.

Pavel Syarhei, like some other activists, wanted to have the alternative civilian service due to his religious views. A psychiatrist turned attention to a large number of police records and decided to give Pavel a deferment.

The military enlistment office ignored the deferment probably on the order from above and sent the activist to the army.