MINSK. May 20 (Interfax) - The Council of the Republic of the Belarusian National Assembly has approved a package of bills on alternative service and the main law will take effect on July 1, 2016, local media have reported.
According to earlier reports, citizens who cannot undergo military service as conscripts because of their religious convictions may get the right to undergo alternative service.
A citizen who wishes to undergo alternative service is required to inform the conscription commission about that no later than ten days before the end of the conscription. The person is required to substantiate his request and has a right to provide various documents confirming that.
Alternative service will be available in social services establishments (hospitals, orphanages, and hospices), in the housing and utilities sector, and in the forestry industry.
In the course of alternative service, citizens are required to suspend their membership in political parties and public associations and not engage in entrepreneurial activities and other work envisaging an income.
The bill determines liability for evading alternative service and breaches during it.
Citizens who undergo alternative service are subject to compulsory state insurance and are entitled to housing for the period of the service.
Conscription commissions have a right to deny citizens alternative service if they find their arguments insufficient.
The Belarusian Defense Ministry estimates the number of people who wish to undergo alternative service in the army as negligible.
"The number of people who wish to undergo alternative service is negligible. It's insignificant for the Armed Forces and society," Defense Minister Andrei Ravkov said earlier. Ravkov said his attitude to alternative service is "very loyal, very neutral."