A 42-year-old serviceman has been recently buried in the Belarusian city of Hrodna. According to Belsat TV sources, he was killed in a military operation in Syria.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
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About 50 people, including Russian and Belarusian military, came to the house where the man used to live to say the last goodbye. He was buried on the city cemetery in Auls.
Uladzimir Makarau, Head of the Defense Ministry’s Information Department, declined comment on the situation.
The dead was dressed in a military uniform, probably that of a pilot. The body was covered with a Russian tricolor. The photo shows the Belarusian army’s guard of honour carrying and escorting the coffin.
The family of the deceased, as well as two men in green uniform with Russian insignia, were behind the coffin.
Officially, the Belarusian army has no relation to the conflict in Syria. But since September 2015, its neighbour and ally Russia has been fighting on the side of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad. Russia’s air forces, marines, and military fleet are involved.
According to Russian law, foreigners may serve in the Russian army under the contract. Usually it is enough to file an application, attend a medical examination and qualify for the army service.
Dozens, hundreds, or maybe even thousands of Belarusians serve in the Russian army, military expert Alyaksandr Alesin believes.
“Taking into account several-fold higher salaries in Russia, many Belarusians opted for contract service in the Russian army,” Alesin said.
In addition, in some cases citizens of Belarus can obtain Russian citizenship under a simplified procedure.
Phot. Yuras Balinski[vc_row][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row]
