Inter­na­tio­nal Support of Conscien­tious Objec­tors and Deserters

Protection for Belarusian conscientious objectors like Vitali Dvarashyn and Mikita Sviryd

They are under threat of deportation by Lithuania to Belarus

(29.07.2024) Lithuania should protect Belarusian conscientious objectors and deserters, grant adequate legal protection and prevent their deportation!

The undersigned organizations are genuinely concerned by the threat of the Lithuanian authorities to immediately deport the Belarusian conscientious objector Vitali Dvarashyn and deserter Mikita Sviryd to Belarus where they are at risk of persecution, imprisonment, and death penalty. We demand immediate action from the Lithuanian authorities to prevent the deportation of conscientious objectors back to Belarus and grant asylum in Lithuania where they have been seeking protection.

Advocacy at the UN and much more

Reporting on Ukraine, Belarus, Eritrea, Turkey and on the human right to conscientious objection

(11.07.2024) In May 2024, Zaira Zafarana began her work in Connection e.V. as international advocacy coordinator. Her consultancy is aimed to advocate for human rights and in particular for the human right to conscientious objection to military service at the United Nations in Geneva, the Council of Europe, and the European Union.

Peace Activist Olga Karach Was Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison Due to Her Human Rights Activities

Belarus must stop prosecuting peace activists and conscientious objectors!

(09.07.2024) The European Bureau for Conscientious Objection, War Resisters’ International (WRI), the International Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFOR), and Connection e.V.  condemn the 12-year prison sentence and a fine of 170,000 Euros imposed on EBCO board member Olga Karach in her recent trial in Belarus.

Ukraine: Stop the criminalization of peace and human rights speech and the prosecution of Yurii Sheliazhenko

Pacifism is not a crime

(07.06.2024) The undersigned organizations express their deep disappointment and grave concerns about the continuing harassment of peace activists and conscientious objectors, including the obviously arbitrary prosecution of Yurii Sheliazhenko, Executive Secretary of the Ukrainian Pacifist Movement and EBCO Board member, whose trial is set on 11 June 2024 at 14:15 Kyiv time, in the Pecherskyi District Court of Kyiv City (case No 757/16536/24-k, judge Oleg Bilotserkivets) and could result in jail sentence up to five years.