Defense ministry plays down increased powers to use weapons

February 6, Pozirk. Belarusian army manuals “have not undergone significant changes,” said Alaksiej Cicki, deputy head of the defense ministry’s ideological department, responding to criticism that soldiers have been given powers to shoot at offenders without firing warning shots.

Cicki accused “a number of pseudo-experts” of misinterpreting “individual phrases” picked out from amended. “As before, a serviceman can use weapons only after a clear and obvious warning of intent, giving [offenders] enough time to meet his lawful demands,” he claimed.

According to Cicki, both old manual and the amended manuals provide that “a serviceman has the right to use physical force or weapons without warning if a delay would endanger citizens’ lives or have other serious consequences.”

“Should any consequences ensue from the use of weapons or physical force, a relevant supervisory body should be immediately contacted for legal evaluation,” he said.

Alaksandar Łukašenka signed Edict No 31 approving the amended Internal Service Regulations on February 1, published on the National Legal Internet Portal on February 3.

The amended Paragraph 11 allows troops to use physical force, combat equipment and weapons depending on the nature of the offense and the identity of the offender.

The previous version authorized soldiers to use physical force and weapons only “if their tasks cannot be carried out by other means.”

Łukašenka also excluded the requirement for soldiers to fire a warning shot from the aforementioned paragraph.

Under the paragraph, servicemen are not liable for any damage caused by the legitimate use of combat equipment and weapons.

Pavieł Łatuška, head of the opposition National Anti-Crisis Management, said the innovation “normalizes the killings of dissenters” and “turns the Belarusian army into an occupation force.”

See also:

Soldiers given more powers to use weapons, no warning shot