The Republic of Belarus provides a limited and highly restrictive framework for conscientious objection to military service. While the Law on Alternative Service (2015) introduced a legal pathway for alternative civilian service, it applies exclusively to individuals who object to military service on religious grounds, effectively excluding those with secular, ethical, or philosophical objections.

Key Provisions and Restrictions

1. Strict Religious Criteria for Eligibility

Alternative civilian service in Belarus is only available to individuals who belong to recognized pacifist religious groups, such as Jehovah’s Witnesses and similar denominations that prohibit military service. Those who oppose military service for non-religious reasons, including philosophical pacifism, political beliefs, or humanitarian concerns, are not eligible and remain subject to conscription.

2. Punitive Duration of Alternative Service

One of the most restrictive aspects of Belarusian alternative service is its excessive length:

• 36 months (instead of 18 months) for those without higher education.
• 24 months (instead of 12 months) for university graduates.

Alternative service placements are typically in state-controlled institutions such as hospitals, social care facilities, and municipal services, where individuals remain under strict government supervision.

3. No Legal Provisions for Post-Conscription Conscientious Objection

Belarusian legislation does not allow active-duty soldiers, reservists, or those who have completed military service to retroactively apply for conscientious objector status. Reservists who develop conscientious objections after completing their initial service period are still required to participate in mandatory reserve training or face criminal charges.

4. Application Process and Bureaucratic Hurdles

Applications for alternative service must be submitted before or during the conscription period and are reviewed by military draft commissions under the Ministry of Defense. The process requires substantial proof of religious conviction, making it difficult for applicants to obtain approval. Those whose applications are rejected may appeal through the civil courts, but successful appeals are rare due to judicial bias in favor of military authorities.

5. Legal Consequences for Non-Recognized Objectors

Individuals who refuse both military and alternative service without a recognized exemption may face prosecution under Article 435 of the Criminal Code. Penalties range from fines to imprisonment for up to two years, effectively criminalizing those who conscientiously object on non-religious grounds.

Current Statistics on Alternative Service (as of March 1, 2024)

• A total of 75 individuals are currently performing alternative civilian service in Belarus. However, this figure represents individuals who have been enrolled over the past 2–3 years due to the extended duration of alternative service.
• Distribution by region:
  • Grodno and Mogilev regions: 15 each
  • Brest and Minsk regions: 14 each
  • Gomel region: 7
  • Vitebsk region: 6
  • Minsk city: 4
• 65% of these individuals are serving in healthcare institutions, while 35% are engaged in social services.
• In contrast, 30,000 individuals were conscripted into the military in 2024 alone, highlighting the extreme rarity of alternative service and the overwhelming preference of the state for military enlistment over civilian alternatives.

Conclusion: A System Designed to Deter

While Belarus formally recognizes alternative civilian service, the system remains highly restrictive and discriminatory. The excessive length of alternative service, combined with the exclusion of secular and philosophical conscientious objectors, places undue hardship on those who refuse military service for reasons of conscience. Additionally, the risk of legal prosecution, forced conscription, and economic disadvantages continues to create an environment where many conscientious objectors face persecution, fines, imprisonment, or forced exile.

International human rights bodies, including the UN Human Rights Committee, have repeatedly called on Belarus to expand its legal framework to ensure full protection of the right to conscientious objection. However, no significant legislative progress has been made, leaving Belarusian objectors with an impossible choice: comply, suffer the consequences, or flee the country.

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