Runaway Sergeant Denied Shelter in Lithuania, Banned to Enter Country
Lithuanian court denied the shelter to Junior Sergeant Zakharchanka who fled to Lithuania last year. A three-year entry ban was also imposed on the man, Delfi says.
The hearing of the case took place in Vilnius District Administrative Court on October 2.
The trial was public due to the request of Mr. Zakharchanka though such cases are usually considered at private sessions. The court satisfied Mr. Zakharchanka’s appeal as the man considered it would not somehow harm him.
The Belarusian communicated with the court via an interpreter.
Mr. Zakharchanka reiterated once again he had deserted from Belarusian army the previous year as he had refused to sign papers which obliged him to use force against civilians.
Mr. Zakharchanka asked the court to force the Department on Migration to reconsider his request for political shelter. The Fund for Assistance to the Protection of Citizens also requested to shelter Mr. Zakharchanka.
As it became known, Mr. Zakharchanka asked for shelter in Lithuania, but then left for Norway.
According to Mr. Zakharchanka, Lithuanian secret services warned him against frequent visits to shops as Belarusian intelligence watched him when he was in a refugee centre in Lithuania.
Mr. Zakharchanka’s lawyer told the court Norway returned the man to Lithuania, where he applied for shelter. However, the court refused to believe