Belarusian Officer: There Are Three Reasons Why They Introduced Changes Regarding Those Liable For Military Service
- 20.10.2023, 21:46
Belarusians can still be sent to war.
In Belarus, changes are being introduced for those liable for military service according to the new bill “On Amendments to Laws on Issues of Ensuring National Security.” Almost anyone now can be recruited into the army under a contract, female conscripts will be in the reserves longer, and the list of those who have the right to a deferment from mobilization will change.
In addition to increasing fines and terms of serving sentences for failure to appear for conscription, the authorities also intend to conscript people into the army by text messages.
What are these innovations related to? Charter97.org website spoke about this on anonymous terms with a Belarusian reserve officer:
—- I see several possible reasons. The first is that, against the backdrop of constant calls for training and re-check, an outflow of those liable for military service began. Many are openly leaving the country. The second is a good way to keep people on their toes, to drive the whole country into barracks and keep it under control.
The third, a little conspiracy theory, there is talk that the Belarusian army may still be involved in the war if Russia achieves success in Ukraine and tries to repeat the campaign against Kyiv.
As for contract servicemen, there is also a serious outflow. People understand perfectly well that today contract service involves real risks of ending up outside the southern border of our country. Everyone sees the example of Russia; the contract soldiers did not manage to “excuse themselves.” Therefore, they now offer army service to everyone —- the convicted, the sick, the lame.
— Considering the constant military training and exercises, has the Belarusian army become stronger?
— I have a critical attitude towards all these training sessions and constant checks of combat readiness. No one sets a goal to improve the training of the rank and file. They gave instructions to carry out training — the officers must do something to keep these funny little men we see in the photo busy.
The “Wagnerites” tried to somehow teach something, but we see how it all ended.
— How should Belarusians prepare in connection with the increasing militaristic rhetoric?
— You always need to prepare for the worst. They say that if a gun is shown in the theater in the first act, it will definitely fire. The first calls to training camp caused some panic in the country, but today all innovations are perceived calmly. It feels like people are being deliberately lulled.
I would advise you to prepare mentally for the fact that at some point we may be given weapons and also given some kind of criminal order. You need to be prepared to confront such things. If you are afraid of such a development of events, it is better to leave and hide. As a joke, many people advise registering telephone numbers to wives, girlfriends, and mothers-in-law so that they can receive an SMS with a summons.
Speaking seriously, living by the formula that this government does not wish us anything good, we need to be prepared for anything.