Belarus

In 2022 there has been an increase of the militarization of the society, in particular through military training programs of children and the institution of military-patriotic clubs for children and youth.[1] According to the statistics, in the summer of 2022 over 18.000 children underwent training in militarized patriotic camps, where children as young as 6 have been trained to use firearms, for instance. Those camps result to be under the patronage of the Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Ministry of Emergency Situations.[2]

Ongoing violations of the human right to conscientious objection to military service have been registered.[3] For instance, on August 18, 2022, a criminal case was brought against two women in Vitebsk who tried to protect their son and nephew from military service. They have been arrested and face up to seven years in prison[4].

In August-December 2022, there have been at least six cases of men charged under Article 435, Part 1 of the Criminal Code (evasion of regular call-up to active military service). One of them was fined 2,240 BYN (approximately 907 EUR)[5]. On September 29, 2022, a 24-year-old man who wanted to avoid military service and went to Poland was tried. He was detained on his return to Belarus and sentenced to a two-month arrest[6].

Although in September 2022 it was stated that there would be no mobilization in Belarus, starting from October it has been declared that Belarus would participate in a 'special operation' and joint activities with the Russian militaries started[7].

On October 12, 2022, the Belarusian parliament adopted in the first reading a draft law which, among other things, updated the grounds for granting the right to defer conscription, reducing the number of persons receiving deferment of conscription.

Additionally, death penalty has been reintroduced and for instance in May 2022, an amendment to the Criminal Code introduced death penalty for attempted acts of terrorism.