Belarusian Maksim Vaitkevichius has been granted political asylum in Armenia, reports factor.am. Earlier he was detained at the request of the Belarusian authorities. Now, after four months behind bars, the young man has been released.

24-year-old Vaitkevichius is wanted in Belarus. He is accused of evading military service. In early February 2024 he was detained at the Armenian border (he came from Georgia), and then placed in custody with the prospect of extradition to Belarus. In March, he asked for political asylum. Recently Armenia recognised the Belarusian as a refugee and granted asylum. On June 19, 2024 Maksim Vaitkevichyus was released.

It is known that Vaitkevichius was persecuted and tortured for his political views in Belarus in 2020 and spent 15 days behind bars.

In May 2024, 24-year-old Belarusian Yaroslav Novikov was granted refugee status in Armenia. In his home country, a criminal case was brought against him for evading military service.

In this sense, Armenia is much more benevolent than Georgia. Georgia literally expels Belarusians to Turkey and then bans their entry back. Although Armenia also has its own problems – the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) is in charge of protecting the borders of this country.

If you want to learn more about the issues of Belarusians’ relations with third, second countries and the first country, you are welcome here.

Related articles:

Armenia is Not a Safe Third Country for Belarusian Deportees from Lithuania Belarusians stood up for Ivan Strashkevich, a Belarusian conscientious objector Belarusian conscientious objector is imprisoned in Lithuanian refugee camp The Belarusian conscientious objector, Vitali Dvarashyn, needs a letter of support Ivan Strashkevich, Belarusian conscientious objector: innocent, but still behind bars Small town in the Belarusian countryside held a show trial of a conscientious objector