Belarus

Previous reports: 2023/24

Principal EBCO concerns

Although Belarus has since 2016 had provisions for a civilian alternative service for conscientious objectors, applications are accepted on religious grounds only, and from members of a small list of denominations whose teachings specifically prohibit the bearing of arms.

There are widespread fears that Belarus will actively join in the Russian military action against Ukraine, and that when it does so it will enforce universal reserve mobilisation following the Russian model.

Not only all former servicemen, including conscripts, but also, ironically, conscientious objectors who have performed alternative civilian service are automatically placed in the military reserve, as are all those who have graduated from military training programmes – those who did so in “military departments” in parallel to their studies proceed straight to reserve officer status, without performing normal military service. Also others who have for any reason not performed military service – and including women - but are considered to have “military-accounting specialties” (e.g., medical or technical skills) may also be subject to call-up for reserve service. Refusal is prosecuted under Article 435 of the Criminal Code with maximum sentences of five years.

As a result, not only potential first-time conscripts, but also persons with reasons to fear that they might be targeted early in such reserve mobilisation have been fleeting Belarus in large numbers, but have particular difficulties in obtaining refugee protection elsewhere.

Partly in response to this, Belarus has imposed increasingly stringent restrictions on those liable for military service and has further increased the penalties for evasion.

Developments

Forced conscription was expanded by a number of Presidential Decrees in 2024:

• No.48 (February 12th) mandates conscription for all men aged 18 or over, eliminating most exemptions.

• No.179 (April 29th) requires compulsory service for former officer cadets, requires mobile network operators to report Telegram activity related to conscription evasion, introduces enhanced monitoring of financial transactions linked to organisations providing assistance to draft evaders and imposes digital access restrictions on websites advocating conscientious objection or for the rights of conscientious objectors.

• No. 312 (August 7th) eliminates deferment of military service by those studying abroad, unless they are state-sponsored.

On 3rd April, the Law No. 363-3² “On amending laws on issues of ensuring national security” introduced sweeping restrictions on the freedom of movement, (Article 12.2 of the ICCPR), and access to civil, social and economic rights for conscription-age individuals who have not completed military registration, and also imposed measures violating the right to privacy (Article 17 of the ICCPR). Provisions include:

• Travel bans for individuals not registered with military authorities;

• Denial of passport issue and renewal abroad. The new restrictions, reinforcing those announced by Presidential decree in September 2023, which had been criticised by Human Rights Council,³ disproportionately impact Belarusians living abroad whether or not in order to avoid military conscription. By prohibiting passport renewals at embassies and consulates, the government forces individuals to return to Belarus, however inconveniently. Those liable for military service thereby additionally risk detention, forced conscription, or criminal charges. This effectively leaves these and many others stateless, without valid documentation for legal residence, employment, or travel in foreign countries. In particular, as pointed out by the Human Rights Council's Special Rapporteur on Belarus,⁴ children born abroad to Belarusians may find themselves stateless as a result.

• Mandatory military registration as a prerequisite for access to employment and education, thereby violating Articles 6.1 and 13 of the International Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (IESCR), and to identity documents (e.g., passports, driving licences). Individuals who have not fulfilled their military service obligations already face restrictions on employment in state institutions, effectively barring access to public sector jobs and limiting career prospects in government related sectors;

• Real-time surveillance through interagency data sharing between military commissariats, border control, and security services;

• Delivery of military call-up notices via SMS, with legal penalties for failure to respond;

• Mandatory disclosure and prompt updating of personal mobile phone numbers;

• Authorised use by the security services of geolocation data, mobile metadata, and financial transaction records to track and identify individuals attempting to evade conscription.

Moreover, the Law amended Article 361-1 of the Criminal Code by expanding liability for “participation in extremist formations” to include following, subscribing to, or engaging with such organisations online. This has led to:

• Increased prosecution of individuals sharing draft avoidance information or discussing conscientious objection.

• The blocking of digital resources offering legal advice to conscripts.

• Detention and sentencing of human rights activists working with refugees and conscientious objectors.

On 12th September, the Council of Ministers adopted Resolution No. 670, amending Resolution No. 837 of 1997 on the Rules for the Personalised Record-Keeping of Insured Individuals in the State Social Insurance Systemi. The changes were enacted in accordance with Article 14 of the Law No. 363-3 of 3 April 2024 on Strengthening national security. Key provisions include:

• Inclusion of conscripts, reservists, and individuals undergoing military training in the State Social Insurance System;

• Mandatory reporting by employers and local authorities regarding military-related employment and insurance contributions;

• Employer reimbursement of all military service-related employment costs.

Additionally, revised reimbursement policies require private and public enterprises (excluding national budget funded institutions) to:

• Cover administrative costs related to military registration and conscription procedures;

• Maintain and update military service records of their employees;

• Continue paying full salaries to employees during periods of military training, mobilisation, or active duty;

• Coordinate all financial settlements with military commissariats, armed forces units, State Security Committee (KGB) offices, and other relevant state agencies.

These measures, aimed at integration of civilian economic actors into the military infrastructure, blur the line between civilian and military spheres, effectively compelling civilian employers to subsidise the state's militarisation agenda, and reinforces government control over both individual livelihoods and corporate operations. The resulting integration of civilian sectors into military logistics and enforcement systems represents a further erosion of socio-economic autonomy in Belarus.

Conscientious objection during and after military service

As of 1 March 2024, only 75 individuals were recorded as performing alternative service (65% in healthcare, 35% in social care).

Asylum for conscientious objectors

There has been no improvement in the situation of conscientious objectors who flee from Belarus to Lithuania, who, against all logic, are primarily viewed by the Lithuanian authorities as a security hazard, and no further developments in the individual cases on which we reported in 2023.

We did become aware of one sad case in 2024. A conscientious objector (with no background as a political activist) who had sought and (like all others) been refused political asylum in Belarus, became depressed and despairing of his situation decided at the beginning of August to return voluntarily to Belarus. He was however detained by the Lithuanian border guards, who insisted on formally deporting him the following day. It is known that he faced imprisonment in Belarus; for his own security we are unable and unauthorised to reveal his identity and have not been able to ascertain his fate since return.

Militarisation of the education system

The militarisation of society is proceeding apace, particularly through the education system. Even primary schools have formal links with military units, whose members may provide supplementary teaching. Military training is an obligatory part of the secondary school curriculum. School-age children attend semi-compulsory summer camps of a military nature and participate in the 755 military/patriotic clubs, which have a total membership of almost 11,000.

1. Population and armed forces figures are derived from The Military Balance 2025, published by the international Institute for Strategic Studies; military expenditure figures are estimates published by SIPRI (The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute) in April 2025. ⤴
2. https://pravo.by/document/?guid=12551&p0=H12400363⤴
3. A/HRC/RES/55/27, 11th April, 2024. para 4(l)⤴
4. A/HRC/56/65, 9th May, 2024, para 26.⤴