Accessibility links

Breaking News

Belarusians Fighting In Ukraine To Be Jailed


Belarusian citizens fighting in Ukraine's east on either side of the conflict will be jailed.

Belarusian KGB chief Valery Vakulchyk told journalists in Minsk on October 2 that any Belarusians found to have fought in Ukraine will be defined as "mercenaries," which are banned under Belarusian law.

People in Belarus found have acted as a mercenary can be sentenced to up to seven years in jail.

Media reports in Belarus said in August that some individuals have been recruiting people in Belarus to fight for pro-Russian separatist forces in Ukraine's eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.

There were also reports of Belarusian volunteers fighting for Ukraine against the separatists.

Ukrainian armed forces have been fighting against pro-Russian separatists in the country's east for six months.

  • 16x9 Image

    RFE/RL's Belarus Service

    RFE/RL's Belarus Service is one of the leading providers of news and analysis to Belarusian audiences in their own language. It is a bulwark against pervasive Russian propaganda and defies the government’s virtual monopoly on domestic broadcast media.

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.

To find out more, click here.

XS
SM
MD
LG