Inter­na­tio­nal Support of Conscien­tious Objec­tors and Deserters

US style-invasions are morally indefensible, even when other countries do it

(02.03.2022) To the Russian troops now attempting to occupy Ukraine–tens of thousands of whom are barely-trained and unwilling conscripts: Follow your conscience. Lay down your weapons. Go home, or attempt to get refugee status.

To the peoples of Ukraine: Nonviolent civilian-based defense is likely the optimal strategy for standing up to and driving out invading forces. This Russian military was designed for destruction, not occupation. They can be defeated by people-power resistance.

To the government of Ukraine: Stop forcing all men between the ages of 18-60 to fight. Respect war resisters and conscientious objectors, even in these dark times. Allow all men to seek refuge elsewhere, not just women and children.

Greece: Conscientious Objector Sotiropoulos sentenced

Stop the intimidations and prepare the end of conscription

(16.06.2015) The European Bureau for Conscientious Objection (EBCO) is shocked at what happened today in the Appeal Military Court of Athens, where the Greek conscientious objector Dimitris K. Sotiropoulos was found guilty again on an insubordination charge and was sentenced to 10-month suspended imprisonment after a clearly unfair trial with problematic procedures.

Britain: Conscientious objector Michael Lyons sentenced to 7 months’ imprisonment

(05.07.2011) A military court in Portsmouth sentenced British conscientious objector Michael Lyons to seven months’ imprisonment today, following a two-day trial. Michael Lyons joined the Royal Navy as a medic in 2005, and in May 2010 he was notified that he would be deployed to Afghanistan later that year. Soon after, he applied for discharge as a conscientious objector, as he had developed a conscientious objection to participating in the war in Afghanistan in particular, and against war in general.

Europe moves ahead, Greece stays behind

(02.02.2011) In view of the trials of three Greek conscientious objectors in February, EBCO calls on the Greek authorities to stop the continuous persecution of Greek conscientious objectors and fulfil its international obligations by fully respecting their human rights, both in law and in practice. “We strongly condemn the Greek practice of criminalisation of conscientious objection and we are expecting Greece to move ahead in order to meet the European and international standards, not stay behind. It’s simply unacceptable that Greek citizens have to appear before military courts and face prison sentences just because of their conscience”, Mr. Gerd Greune, EBCO President, said today.