Belarus - Conscientious objector jailed

Belarus: February 01, 2010, (PCTV Newsdesk)

Ivan Mikhailov, a Messianic Jew, has today (1 February) had a three-monthjail term imposed on him by a court in Belarus for refusing compulsorymilitary service. His brother-in-law told Forum 18 News Service that "Thesentence has nothing to do with justice." His lawyer, Svetlana Gorbatok,argued that the absence of an Alternative Service Law is not a legal basisfor violating Mikhailov's rights. He has been in pre-trial detention since15 December 2009, and must serve another six weeks unless he wins an appealhe will make. Also present in court was Mikhail Pashkevich of 'ForAlternative Civilian Service', which has launched a civic society petitioncalling for civilian alternative service. Prosecutor Aleksandr Cherepovich,asked by Forum 18 who had suffered from refusal to undertake compulsorymilitary service, replied: "The state." Meanwhile, the launch of a CDcompilation of Christian songs at a Catholic church has been stopped understate pressure. Senior religious affairs official Alla Ryabitseva angrilytold Forum 18 that: "Concerts don't take place in churches."

For more detail visit www.forum18.org