Belarus ramps up military draft via SMS with strict penalties for dodgers

Starting Sunday, conscripts in Belarus will receive draft notices via SMS as the government has heightened penalties for avoiding military service, including potential imprisonment of up to three years.

Just a few days ago, President Lukashenko stated, "Belarus is preparing for war. I'm speaking honestly about it: 'If you want peace, prepare for war.' This isn't my original thought, but it fits perfectly." He elaborated that Minsk is enhancing its military capabilities by training soldiers and acquiring new weapons and equipment to boost the nation's defense readiness.

Since April 7, Belarus has implemented a new law concerning military drafting and mobilization during wartime, allowing draft notices to be sent via SMS. The Ministry of Defense clarified that during mobilization and war periods, an SMS draft notice will have the same legal standing as a traditional paper document. Ignoring such a notice could result in administrative or criminal penalties. However, during peacetime, these digital notices will serve as an additional information source for conscripts.

Cellular operators are now mandated to submit the phone numbers of draft-eligible citizens within a week of receiving a military summons. Moreover, these operators are required to dispatch the draft notices via SMS.

Under the new rules, individuals of any age, including those under investigation, with a criminal record, or currently serving a prison sentence, may now be recruited for contractual military service if deemed necessary by Lukashenko "to ensure the interests of defense and national security."

The consequences for evading military service have become more severe, with the possibility of imprisonment for up to three years. Penalties for not responding to a draft board summons have also increased.

Source: moscowtimes.ru