Easing of travel restrictions in Ukraine: Söder and Linnemann call for actions contrary to international law

(31.10.2025) Easing of travel restrictions in Ukraine: Söder and Linnemann call for actions contrary to international law
Press release from Connection e.V.

(October 30, 2025) With the start of the Russian attack, the Ukrainian government imposed a travel ban on all men between the ages of 18 and 60. Since then, leaving the country has only been possible with special permission. This constitutes a violation of the human right to freedom of movement.

Since the end of August 2025, men aged 18 to 22 have been allowed to leave the country. Many are taking advantage of this opportunity. Among them are presumably many conscientious objectors. Although the Constitution guarantees them the human right to conscientious objection, in practice there is no procedure for this. Applications are not accepted, are arbitrarily rejected, and even explicit recognitions are not taken into account. Instead, more and more are forcibly recruited, ending up in prisons or in the military. Consequently, young Ukrainians who are liable for military service and want to refuse to serve have no other option but to leave the country.

Now Bavarian Minister President Markus Söder (CSU) says in Bild: “It doesn’t help anyone if more and more young men come to Germany from Ukraine instead of defending their own homeland.” He says “Ukrainian soldiers are also needed to defend their own country.” He therefore calls on the EU and Berlin to “put pressure on Ukraine to change the relaxed exit regulations again.” " [1]

He receives support from CDU Secretary General Carsten Linnemann in Stern: “That is why it is not right that many young men in particular are leaving Ukraine.” [2]

Freedom of movement and the right to conscientious objection are protected by the European Convention on Human Rights (Art. 2 (2) 4. Protocol and Art. 9 of the ECHR). This is binding international law.

Connection e.V. misses a commitment by German and EU politicians to uphold human rights, not only in Ukraine, but also here.

No one may be forced to perform military service against their will or conscience.

The human rights to freedom of movement and conscientious objection must not be sacrificed to war.

Young people are not cannon fodder; they must not be used up in war—conscientious objectors have the law on their side.

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[1] https://www.bild.de/politik/inland/soeder-will-zuzug-ukrainischer-maenner-begrenzen-68fa5cbbc014c78e37fb78fd
[2] https://www.stern.de/politik/deutschland/ukrain

Keywords:    ⇒ Conscientious Objection   ⇒ Ukraine