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Story About Arrest of Amateurs in Belarus

Cross-posted to 5 groups.

Followups directed to: rec.radio.amateur.moderated, rec.radio.amateur.policy, oma.general, nebr.misc

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You've probably seen postings that indicated that Amateur Radio
operators in Belarus were arrested by the government and accused of
traitorous activities.  The story is a bit more complex than what is
depicted in the postings.  Rod Stafford, W6ROD, ARRL Vice President for
International Affairs checked with the president of the International
Amateur Radio Union (IARU) Region 1, which includes Europe.  Here is his
response:

*************************************
Following reports regarding the prosecution of radio operators in
Belarus, IARU Region 1 issues the following statement to clarify the
distinction between amateur radio activities and individual legal
compliance :

1. The Scope of Amateur Radio Amateur radio is a technical, educational,
and service-oriented hobby defined internationally by the ITU and
governed by national regulations. Its purpose is the self-training,
intercommunication, and technical investigation carried out by
amateursā-"that is, duly authorised persons interested in radio
technique solely with a personal aim and without pecuniary interest.

2. Accountability and the Law While the individuals involved in this
case hold amateur radio licenses, our investigation indicates that the
actions leading to their prosecution fall entirely outside the scope of
the amateur radio service. An amateur radio license grants the privilege
to experiment with technology and communicate within specific
parameters; it does not grant immunity from national laws, nor does it
authorise the use of radio equipment for activities that contravene the
legal framework of a sovereign state.

3. Distinguishing the Hobby from the Action We believe the public
narrative surrounding this case has been somewhat misplaced. The core
issue is not the practice of amateur radio itself, but rather a failure
to comply with specific national laws. It is vital to distinguish
between the legitimate use of amateur frequencies and actions that are
unrelated to the technical and social goals of our community.

4. Our Position IARU Region 1 does not condone or support any actions by
licensed operators that bypass legal requirements or violate the terms
of their amateur license. We advocate for the protection of our spectrum
and the rights of our members, but this advocacy is predicated on the
"Amateur Code"ā-"which dictates that an operator must be balanced,
loyal, and law-abiding.

The amateur radio community is built on a foundation of international
cooperation and respect for regulation. We urge our members to remember
that the integrity of our hobby depends on our collective commitment to
operating within the legal boundaries of our respective countries.

We will continue to monitor the situation, but we reiterate that the
legal consequences faced by individuals for actions outside the scope of
their license are a matter for the relevant judicial systems.

73

Sylvain F4GKR

-- 
Sylvain AZARIAN - F4GKR
IARU Region 1 President
2A rue du Tour de la Ferme
78125 ORCEMONT
FRANCE

*********************
73, Art K0AIZ

--------------------------------------------------------------------
ARRL Midwest Division
Director: Arthur I Zygielbaum, K0AIZ
k0aiz@arrl.org
--------------------------------------------------------------------


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