Information on military service; on its duration, on the penalties for evasion and desertion, on whether it is uniformly applied irrespective of ethnicity or religion, and on the availability of an alternative to military service [LTU21460.E]

In a telephone interview on 15 August 1995, a research analyst who specializes in Lithuania at Prague's Open Media Research Institute (OMRI), a research enterprise dedicated to the study of the former Soviet Union and east-central and south-eastern Europe, provided the following information. The normal length of military service is twelve months, and the length for the alternative to military service is eighteen months. The alternative to military service is fairly easily attained.

The research analyst added that the penalty for military service evasion is a relatively small fine. The research analyst could not provide information on the penalty for military service desertion. The provisions for military service, including alternative service and the penalty for military service evasion, are applicable regardless of ethnicity or religion.

For additional information on the penalty for avoidance of military service, please consult the BBC Summary of World Broadcasts attachment of 24 November 1993.

For information on possible consequences for desertion from military service, please consult the second page of the BBC Summary of World Broadcasts attachment of 2 May 1994.

For additional information on the length of military service, on the alternative to military service, on the penalty for evasion of military service, and on whether the provisions for military service are applied irrespective of ethnicity or religion, and for information on the penalty for desertion from military service, please consult the Lithuanian Human Rights Association attachment. For a copy of the questions that were posed to the association, please consult the DIRB attachment.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

References


BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 2 May 1994. "Lithuanian Conscription Problems: Health of Volunteers Questioned." (NEXIS)

_____. 24 November 1993. "Lithuania: Most Young Men Avoiding Military Service." (NEXIS)


Open Media Research Institute (OMRI), Prague. 15 August 1995. Telephone interview with research analyst.

Attachments

BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 2 May 1994. "Lithuanian Conscription Problems: Health of Volunteers Questioned." (NEXIS)

_____. 24 November 1993. "Lithuania: Most Young Men Avoiding Military Service." (NEXIS)

Documentation, Information and Research Branch (DIRB), Immigration and Refugee Board, Ottawa. 15 August 1995. Facsimile sent to the Lithuanian Human Rights Association, Vilnius.

Lithuanian Human Rights Association, Vilnius. 18 August 1995. Facsimile sent to the DIRB.