Document #1065659
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Author)
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.
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.
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.