Inter­na­tio­nal Support of Conscien­tious Objec­tors and Deserters

Ukraine: Appellate court is reluctant to acquit a conscientious objector

(23.06.2025) The Kyiv Court of Appeal has postponed until September 30 the consideration of the appeal of Valentyn Adamchuk, who asks to find him not guilty of evading the draft during mobilization. Adamchuk belongs to the Church of Christians of Evangelical Faith (Pentecostal) "Living Hope", whose creed prohibits the use of weapons. The Darnytskyi District Court of Kyiv sentenced him to three years in prison for his Christian faithfulness to the commandments and a request for alternative non-military service.

Ukraines Supreme Court: Religious belief does not exempt citizens from military service during wartime

(01.05.2025) Ukraine’s Supreme Court ruled that citizens cannot refuse military service during wartime based on religious beliefs, emphasizing that the obligation to defend the nation applies to all Ukrainians during Russia’s full-scale invasion, the court’s press office said on May 1.

Connection e.V. presents analysis: Federal High Court attacks basic right to conscientious objection

(12.03.2025) On January 16, 2025, the German Federal High Court (BGH) issued a decision on the question of whether a Ukrainian citizen could be extradited even though he had declared that he is a conscientious objector, and Ukraine had suspended the right to conscientious objection in the event of war. Today, Connection e.V. presented an analysis of the BGH decision and concludes that the BGH failed to take into account key aspects of the decision.

Federal Court of Justice attacks basic right to conscientious objection

An analysis of the decision of the court

(12.03.2025) Connection e.V. presents an analysis of the decision of the German Federal High Court (BGH) issued January 16, 2025. The BGH defined whether a Ukrainian citizen may be extradited even though he has declared that he is a conscientious objector and Ukraine has suspended the right to conscientious objection at the beginning of war. In Ukraine, the conscientious objector is therefore threatened with conscription into the war and, if he refuses, years in prison.