MINSK, 9 June (BelTA) – The Belarusian Defense Ministry is doing a huge amount of work with regard to coronavirus prevention, BelTA learned from Deputy Defense Minister Sergei Potapenko on 9 June.
According to the source, a number of sanitary measures are being taken. Some of the personnel have gone down with the virus but, as a rule, the coronavirus infection does not have serious consequences. “The problem exists but, let's hope, it will soon go away,” the deputy defense minister said.
Sergei Potapenko also answered the question how reserve officers, who are supposed to be recalled to active service this year, will be subjected to quarantine procedures. “Every year we recall to active service 100 people – officers, who received military ranks as part of their university education. They spend some time with the troops to improve their skills. They will be drafted at different times, not all of them at once. But all the 100 people will be recalled by the end of the year,” Sergei Potapenko said. “Certainly, we will check their health before recall. All the necessary measures will be taken. We are not going to recall to active service those, who are ill.”
In line with the decree Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko signed on 28 May this year the army has to recall to active service up to 100 reserve officers, who have not completed their compulsory military service or reserve service and are not eligible for draft exemptions.
The Defense Ministry has been instructed to assign the reserve officers to military posts. The Council of Ministers will have to report results of the draft campaign to the head of state by 1 February 2021.