More Than 5 Thousand Signatures Collected For Belarusian Defense Minister’s Resignation

Belarusians are actively demanding Raukou’s resignation.

More than five thousand signatures have been collected for the resignation of the defense minister of Belarus after the soldier’s death in the military unit near Barysau.

Homel human rights defenders initiated the collection of signatures on the online site Zvarot.by, demanding thorough investigation of the criminal case on the hanging of conscript Aliaksandr Korzhych in the training unit in Pechy.

"This egregious case is yet another confirmation of the established practice, when hazing in the armed forces is not stopped by the military unit officials," – the statement said.

As reported, On October 3 this year, 21-year-old Pinsk resident Aliaksandr Korzhych, called up on May 18, was found hanged in the basement of the military unit. According to his relatives, the guy was found with fastened legs and a T-shirt on his head.

Upon the soldier’s death, the Investigative Committee of Belarus instituted a criminal case "on the basis of the elements of the crime provided for in the Part 3 of the Article 443 (violation of the statutory rules of relations between persons subject to the status of a serviceman, in the absence of subordination relations that entailed grave consequences) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus ".

Zvarot.by is an online platform for citizens to apply to state bodies of the Republic of Belarus and implement public campaigns through uniting interested citizens and organizations around the existing problem.