Man Convicted in Minsk for Refusing to Participate in Military Training Due to Religious Beliefs
A Minsk resident came to the military enlistment office on the appointed day but refused to go to the training camp, citing that it contradicts his religious beliefs, Minsk-News reports .
The Pervomaisky District Court of Minsk sentenced a 38-year-old local resident, who was accused of evading military training camps. The man, who works as a loader and had no prior criminal record, did not plead guilty at the court hearing.
According to the case materials, the Minsk resident received a summons and was supposed to appear at the military commissariat on October 7, 2025, for deployment to a military unit. When the summons was handed over, he was warned about the responsibility under signature.
On the appointed day, the man came to the military enlistment office but outright refused to go to the training camp, explaining that it was due to his religious beliefs — his faith forbids him from having military status.
Based on Part 1 of Art. 436 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus, the court found the Minsk resident guilty and imposed a sentence in the form of:
- correctional labor for a period of six months;
- retention of 20% of earnings at the main place of work to the state (but not less than one basic unit monthly).
The verdict has not yet entered into legal force and may be appealed.