Homel oppositionist taken to military enlistment office by force

• 14.01.2010, 15:13

Yauhen Yakavenka, a coordinator on creating the Belarusian Christian Democracy party, was detained in Homel January 14.

Yakavenka said in cell phone two men in militia unifrom had come up to him in Knizhnaya Street, forced him to get into a car and taken him to a military enlistment office,” BElaPAN informs.

“They didn’t introduce themselves, didn’t explain their actions, but threatened to use force, snatched my cell phone from hands, twisted my arms. Another man was watching this from the car, he spied upon me since I had left my house,” the activist said.

According to Yakavenka, he was told in the military office that he evaded draft, so militia had to guard him to the office. “I haven’t received any summonses. How can I evade the draft?” Yakavenka wonders.

The activist is going to complain at the militia actions to a prosecutor’s office. “These actions fall under an article of the Criminal Code relating to abduction,” he said.