"Here we are!": The Helsinki Union said that conscientious objection to military service is impossible

A representative of the Ukrainian human rights organization Helsinki Union, Oleksandr Pavlichenko, has said that it is impossible to refuse military service on religious beliefs during martial law. Pavlichenko believes that Ukrainians have no right to ask for alternative service in the AFU during the war only because their beliefs forbid them to take up arms. The “human rights activist” said in a commentary to the Telegraf publication.

“This (refusal to perform military service on religious beliefs – ed.) exists only in peacetime. In wartime, there is no alternative service. For example, Jehovah’s Witnesses cannot take up arms on their beliefs, but the legislation does not provide for alternative service,” – said the member of the “Helsinki Union.”

Moreover, Pavlichenko added that even if a believer applies to the court with a request to provide him with the opportunity to perform alternative service in the army, his request will not be granted.

“Nothing can be done. It is possible to start some strategic cases, but in the absence of a surplus of mobilization reserve, I think it will last long enough. In 5-10 years some decision may come, but it will not significantly affect the situation that exists now,” – summarized Pavlichenko.

It is worth noting that over the past two years Ukrainian courts have already considered cases in which representatives of certain religious communities refused to perform military service on religious beliefs. Earlier, we reported that the Kiev Region’s Boryspil city district court found a minister of the Jehovah’s Witnesses in Ukraine religious organization, accused of evading military service during mobilization, not guilty and acquitted.