Students, participants of the Kalinovski Programme not let out of Belarus

Names of students are listed in so-called ‘black lists’. In this way the Military registration and enlistment office is trying to collect the disagreeable opposition activists for the army service.

A youth activist of the BPF party, Franak Viachorka, was not let through the Belarusian-Lithuanian border. This happened at the border crossing point Kamenny Log. Franak was not informed about the reasons behind the ban regarding leaving the territory of Belarus.

Franak Viachorka: “I was told that I was banned from leaving the territory of the Republic of Belarus and that my name recently appeared in the ‘black list’. When I asked why I was taken off the coach, the border guard said: “Find it out yourself”. I think it is linked to the army conscription and that my name was added to the list by the Sovietsky District military registration and enlistment office”.

On the day before, a student of the Kalinovsky Programme, Zmitr Buyanov, was taken off the train by a border guard while crossing the border from the Polish side. He was told that he would not be let out next time due to the fact that his name appeared in the ‘black list’.

“When I crossed the Belarusian border, a border guard took me out of the train car. He took my passport, looked through it and told me that I would not be let out of the country next time. When I asked ‘Why?”, he told me: “Address the police, you will find out”. Prior to this moment I traveled several times from and to Belarus and I never had any problems. I believe it is the revenge to Belarusian guys for studying abroad”.

Franak Viachorka has been through a regional medical board for conscription. He had an eye surgery. Franak was told that his conscription would be postponed for half a year.

Zmiter Buyanau is studying at the University of Gdansk. The conscription office has the reference from his University translated into Belarusian. He was informed by the conscription office that his conscription was postponed for a year.

Both guys are registered at the Sovietsky District military registration and enlistment office.

Mr. Aleksandr Ivanovsky, responsible for conscription matters explained to the Radio Liberty why Franak Viachorka was added to the ‘black list’.

Ivanovsky: “Where was he taken off the coach?”

Radio Liberty: “At the Belarusian-Lithuanian border”.

Ivanovsky: “Border guards acted properly. Mr. Viachorka has not been through a medical board for conscription. There was no approval from the Oblast board. Therefore the postponement is not valid. After the official approval by the Oblast medical board we will issue an official postponement”.

With regard to Zmitr Buyanau, Mr. Ivanovsky clarified the following:

“There is no precise date of graduation from the University. A year only is indicated and there is lack of exact day and month. He has to come to conscription office and go through a medical board”.

Mr. Ivanovsky keeps a separate file for those students who study at foreign universities. However issues arise exceptionally regarding those who study within the frameworks of assistance Programmes for repressed students.