Inter­na­tio­nal Support of Conscien­tious Objec­tors and Deserters

Ukraine: Jehovah’s Witness Jailed for Conscientious Objection to Military Service

(10.01.2025) Today Jehovah’s Witness Volodymyr Baranov was placed to pre-trial detention by Darnitsky District Court of Kyiv, judge Olha Prosalova. The court decided he could be released on the bail 180 000 UAH.

Belarusian conscientious objector has won a decisive court case in Lithuania

(04.12.2024) Dear friends,

Today, I am thrilled to share some excellent news: a Belarusian conscientious objector, Vitaly Dvarashin, has won a decisive court case in Lithuania, overturning a deportation order.

Advocacy at the UN and much more, July till October 2024

Reporting on Bolivia, Greece, Turkey, Kyrgysztan and other countries

(06.11.2024) Zaira Zafarana, international advocacy coordinator of Connection e.V. raised the issue of conscientious objection to military service in different countries during the 57^th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. She took the floor in the plenary of the Council on several occasions. Furthermore, she submitted country-based reports to UN mechanisms for upcoming reviews and reporting to the council.

Ukraine: About new 300 criminal cases against conscientious objectors

(30.10.2024) The number of new criminal cases against conscientious objectors has surged since summer 2024 after the General Prosecutor’s Office wrote to local prosecutors. About 300 conscientious objectors now face criminal investigations which could lead – if cases reach court and end in convictions – to a 3 to 5 year jail term. Of the 89 cases related to 86 individuals that have already reached trial (listed in this article), courts handed down 9 jail terms (only one conscientious objector is currently in jail), with 11 suspended sentences. Trials in 66 of the 89 known cases that have reached trial are ongoing.