No cut in military service term?
The defense ministry says it is ready to train a soldier within one year, but the House of Representatives is not considering a legislation to cut the military service term. The term of military service is to be reduced: that was a breaking news that grabbed attention of Internet users in Belarus over the weekend. If you are an ordinary soldier, you will serve one year. If you are a university graduate, the term will be nine months.
But no legislation to cut the military service term was passed, the European Radio for Belarus has learned. Moreover, the House of Represenatives is not even set to consider this proposal.
"The defense ministry tabled this proposal before the parliament. You should ask lawmakers when it would be considered. In order to reduce the term of military service, it is necessary to introduce amendments to the Law on Military Duty and Military Service. Decision is taken by the parliament. But our system of military training allows to prepare a necessary specialist within 12 months", Vaychaslau Ramenchy, the head of the defense ministry's press office, told the European Radio for Belarus.
The defense ministry plans to cut the term of military service in order to reduce the number of those who evade their military duty. But military enlistment offices in Belarus have no idea about new terms of military service.
"Official information on this issue is yet to be released. So far, the current terms remain in place. Rumors have circulated since 1996 when I joined the army. But if they decide to pass this legislation soon, you can see the new terms of military service by summer", Dzianis Ivanenka, the head of draft at the Military Enlistment Office at Minsk's Maskouski District said.
The Interior Ministry opposes this proposal on the grounds that if the term of military service is cut, the number of interior troops will have to be increased twofold. Given the authority of the police in Belarus, this circumstance can delay the passing of the amendments.
Apparently, the legislation has not even yet drafted. We asked Andrei Bronnikau, the secretary of the National Security Commission at the House of Representatives if the proposal had been tabled
Andrei Bronnikau: No, I have not seen it yet.
Euroradio: If it is drafted, will you definitely see it?
Andrei Bronnikau: Yes.
Since even the national security commission has no information about this legislation, the idea of cutting the military service term remains a myth.
It means that the youngsters who are to be drafted the upcoming winter will serve one year and a half as before. University graduates will serve one year. It is yet to be known if the legislation is drafted and passed before the summer draft. The defense ministry told the European Radio for Belarus that four years back this proposal had been tabled before the parliament. But back then this idea was not supported by lawmakers.
The European Radio for Belarus will be following this issue.
But no legislation to cut the military service term was passed, the European Radio for Belarus has learned. Moreover, the House of Represenatives is not even set to consider this proposal.
"The defense ministry tabled this proposal before the parliament. You should ask lawmakers when it would be considered. In order to reduce the term of military service, it is necessary to introduce amendments to the Law on Military Duty and Military Service. Decision is taken by the parliament. But our system of military training allows to prepare a necessary specialist within 12 months", Vaychaslau Ramenchy, the head of the defense ministry's press office, told the European Radio for Belarus.
The defense ministry plans to cut the term of military service in order to reduce the number of those who evade their military duty. But military enlistment offices in Belarus have no idea about new terms of military service.
"Official information on this issue is yet to be released. So far, the current terms remain in place. Rumors have circulated since 1996 when I joined the army. But if they decide to pass this legislation soon, you can see the new terms of military service by summer", Dzianis Ivanenka, the head of draft at the Military Enlistment Office at Minsk's Maskouski District said.
The Interior Ministry opposes this proposal on the grounds that if the term of military service is cut, the number of interior troops will have to be increased twofold. Given the authority of the police in Belarus, this circumstance can delay the passing of the amendments.
Apparently, the legislation has not even yet drafted. We asked Andrei Bronnikau, the secretary of the National Security Commission at the House of Representatives if the proposal had been tabled
Andrei Bronnikau: No, I have not seen it yet.
Euroradio: If it is drafted, will you definitely see it?
Andrei Bronnikau: Yes.
Since even the national security commission has no information about this legislation, the idea of cutting the military service term remains a myth.
It means that the youngsters who are to be drafted the upcoming winter will serve one year and a half as before. University graduates will serve one year. It is yet to be known if the legislation is drafted and passed before the summer draft. The defense ministry told the European Radio for Belarus that four years back this proposal had been tabled before the parliament. But back then this idea was not supported by lawmakers.
The European Radio for Belarus will be following this issue.
