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
- PoliticsŁukašenka admits impact of sanctionsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society
- EconomyBelarus fifth in former Soviet Union’s price growth in Q1The material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsŁukašenka speaks of Christian values amid reprisalsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- PoliticsUkraine, Russia exchange prisoners of war in BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsLatvia warns against trips to Belarus, Russia for EasterThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- PoliticsOutgoing Belarusian ambassador discusses ties with South AfricaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsReprisals: arrests of 2020 protesters continueThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarusian ministry links rising prices to high inflation in RussiaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsChestnOK and Vaśminoh projects declared "extremist groups"The material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyFire at Śvietłahorsk Pulp and Cardboard MillThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- SocietyThree Belarusians charged with drug possession in WarsawThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyFuel prices to go up by two kopeksThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsUN tells Belarus to review human rights legislationThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsSeveral people arrested in Dziaržynsk over 2020 protestsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsJailed trade union leader awarded Norwegian prizeThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsOfficial links Western politicians to Nazis at propaganda eventThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsInterior ministry brands 50 people as extremistsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society
- Politics
- PoliticsBelarusian envoy presents credentials to Kazakhstan’s presidentThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityRussia arrests Belarusian man, accuses of terror plotThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- PoliticsReprisals: Cichanoŭskaja’s website declared extremist content in BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsŁukašenka admits “serious issues” with his close ally’s companyThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsMP accuses “collective West” of condoning Hitler in 1939The material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsŁukašenka sacks Belarusian ambassador to ArmeniaThe material is available only to POZIRK+