Inter­na­tio­nal Support of Conscien­tious Objec­tors and Deserters

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.

Belarus - Conscientious objection to military service and related issues

Connection e.V. reports to the UN Human Rights Council to UPR (50th session)

(March 2025) The right to conscientious objection to military service is not yet fully implemented. We also reported on the persecution of human rights defenders.

What is happening to Conscientious objectors and Deserters from Russia, Ukraine and Belarus?

Webinar 3 Years After the Start of the War in Ukraine

Webinar: Mo., 3rd March 2025, 6pm CET

Registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/qr-w6NxLRsempYiDR8G-Mw

Three years ago, Russia attacked Ukraine, resulting in devastating consequences. Yet, there are also hundreds of thousands of individuals in Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine who have refused to participate in the war. What is the state of their right to conscientious objection? What about their protection?

"I believed I would find protection in Europe"

Joint Statement

(14.02.2025) On 16 February 2023, in the resolution ‘One year of Russia’s invasion and war of aggression against Ukraine’, the EU Parliament demanded that Member States provide protection for conscientious objectors and deserters fleeing Belarus, Russia, and occupied Ukraine. However, this is not guaranteed in most Member States.