Inter­na­tio­nal Support of Conscien­tious Objec­tors and Deserters

Turkmenistan: Another second-time jailing, four more imminent?

(15.01.2021) Conscientious objectors increasingly face second prosecutions for continuing to refuse compulsory military service. On 11 January, a court in Lebap Region sentenced 20-year-old Jehovah’s Witness Ruslan Artykmuradov to two years in a strict regime labour camp, his second jailing on the same charges. On 30 December 2020, Danev District Prosecutor’s Office informed four other Jehovah’s Witnesses they face second prosecutions. All had offered to do an alternative, civilian service.

U.S. AWOL Soldier André Shepherd’s Application for Political Asylum

A Chronology

„We condemn politically motivated prosecution of Ruslan Kotsaba”

Statement by Ukrainian Pacifist Movement

(08.12.2020) 10 December 2020, the court in Kolomyya scheduled hearings in a criminal case of Ruslan Kotsaba, the journalist and pacifist who published in 2015 video blog calling to boycott mobilization for armed conflict in Eastern Ukraine. Kotsaba was accused of treason and obstructing military operations, crimes punishable from 5 to 15 years of imprisonment, arrested, and declared a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International.

Israel: Conscientious objector Hallel Rabin about her time in prison

(27.11.2020) Hillel Rabin spent 56 days in military prison for refusing to serve in the IDF. Now she opens up about her time behind bars, conversations with her fellow inmates, and talking to young Israelis about the occupation.