Police official promotes network aimed at securing loyalty from children to Łukašenka

March 18, Pozirk. Children should be ready “to stand up for the country and the president” and react to “slander and extremism at different levels,” Mikałaj Karpiankoŭ, a key figure in police violence against regime critics in 2020, has told state media journalists.
Karpiankoŭ, promoted to interior minister and interior troops commander for his role in suppressing the protests, made the remark while speaking about military-patriotic clubs, which he considers “a special pride” of the interior troops. The youth militarization network is funded through the Young Guard charity established by the government for the purpose.
“Our movement is aimed at promoting service to the Fatherland,” he stressed, noting that being smart, strong, handsome and trained to defend the country is in fashion among teenagers.
Military-patriotic club graduates make up an entire platoon among Military Academy freshmen, Karpiankoŭ boasted.
More than 5,500 children enrolled in the interior ministry’s 159 military-patriotic clubs set up to assist law enforcers “at the most crucial moments,” Anton Siankievič, the ministry’s chief ideology officer, said a few months ago.
The clubs provide basic military training accompanied by intensive indoctrination. Police officers and contract and enlisted military servicemen reportedly train school students in tactics, military map reading, field fortification, arms handling and hand-to-hand combat.
Indoctrination of school students intensified after the 2020 postelection protests in Belarus as the government keeps seeking loyalty and obedience.
In addition, authorities in Belarus have equated criticism, solidarity, advocacy, the free media and free expression to extremism and terrorism.
Also read: Third of internal troops are members of elite units – commander
Security forces conduct anti-riot exercise at penal colony
Belarus’ riot police, internal troops training near Ukrainian border
Anti-riot internal troops unit on stand-by in Viciebsk region
- Politics, SecurityDrill: troops repel attack, practice drone controlThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyIndependent media adopt ethical codeThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyFive sentenced for setting fire to kiosk in MahiloŭThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityBelarus reinforces Ukraine border with new patrol stationThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- Rubel may strengthen if Ukraine ceasefire agreed, economist saysThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- EconomyRussia postpones Belarus' $800-million debt repayment until 2031-2036The material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsKGB labels Center for New Ideas "extremist group"The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Elections, PoliticsOpposition leader: inauguration is a meaningless formality in BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- EconomyBiełstat: Belarusian companies’ CapEx up 40 percent in January-FebruaryThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsMinsk pressing criminal charges against 15 RFE/RL journalists in 2024The material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyHomiel region leading in TB incidence – health ministryThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsBySol helps journalist Čyndarava leave BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsOpposition politician meets Zelensky’s aide in KyivThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyBelarus introduces e-visas for nationals of 67 countriesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsReprisals: UN experts call for immediate release of rights defender RabkovaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Elections, Politics
- PoliticsSeven nations join EU sanctions extension on BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyBelarus steps up student exchange with HungaryThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyCentral city left without heating, hot waterThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsBelarus' ambassador slams UN experts' critical reportThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityUkraine, Russia exchange prisoners of war in BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics"State secret" threatens Belarusian activist's asylum in GeorgiaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, PoliticsEuropean court upholds sanctions on Minsk-registered Dana AstraThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Society
- EconomyBiełstat: Hrodna region's economy lagged behind in January - FebruaryThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- EconomyNew PM set to diversify Belarus' exportsThe material is available only to POZIRK+