Inter­na­tio­nal Support of Conscien­tious Objec­tors and Deserters

Armenia: Russian conscientious objector arrested by the Russian military and transferred to Russia

(20.12.2023) Uncertainty is spreading in the Russian exile community in Armenia following the arrest and extradition of a fugitive soldier by the Russian military police in the Armenian city of Gyumri. Dmitry Setrakov, 20, had fled to Armenia to live in exile. On 6 December he was arrested by Russian military police and taken to a military prison of the Russian 102nd military garrison. He was initially sentenced to 27 days in detention for unauthorised removal from the troops, but now the Russian military has extradited him to Rostov-on-Don in the southern military district of Russia.

Ukraine: Violations of human right to conscientious objection to military service

24 February 2022 to November 2023

(25.11.2023) Human right to conscientious objection to military service is not recognized on all stages of military service in Ukraine. Conscripts could be punished for “draft evasion,” acting servicemen for “desertion” or “unauthorized leave of military unit” if persisting on their conscientious objection. Currently a trend could be observed of more harsh sentences in cases of conscientious objectors.

Country report: Belarus

Military Service and the Militarization of Society

(08.10.2023) In Belarus, military service is compulsory for all citizens assigned male at birth between the ages of 18 and 27. The right to conscientious objection has existed since 1994, but it does not apply to those who have already completed their military service, nor to reservists or soldiers.

Country report: Russia

Military Service and Conscientious Objection

(08.10.2023) Military service is compulsory for citizens assigned male at birth in Russia. Since the war in Ukraine, the relevant military laws have been amended several times. In the Russian Federation, the right to conscientious objection exists, so any person can theoretically apply for conscientious objection. However, an application for conscientious objection is only possible until conscription; there is no right to conscientious objection for reservists and former soldiers. An amendment to the military law has made it possible to use alternative service conscripts in the military, too.