Thousands of conscientious objectors in Ukraine under threat of 3-year prison terms

In Ukraine, a significant increase in criminal proceedings against religious conscientious objectors, particularly Jehovah’s Witnesses, has led to severe convictions of 3 years imprisonment, following a Supreme Court ruling suspending the right to conscientious objection during the conflict with Russia. While the Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, only specific religious groups are allowed conscientious objection to military service, with arrests rising sharply recently, posing a potential challenge due to the large number of Jehovah’s Witnesses eligible for mobilization and refusal of alternative service under military supervision.

Full Article