Lawyer: One can’t refuse military service on religious grounds in wartime
Military ID. Photo: korrespoendent.net
Oleksandr Pavlychenko, Director of the Ukrainian Helsinki Union for Human Rights, stated that it is impossible to refuse military service on religious grounds during wartime, reports Telegraf.
"This provision exists only in peacetime. During wartime, there is no alternative service. For example, Jehovah's Witnesses cannot take up arms due to their beliefs, but the legislation does not provide for alternative service," Pavlychenko said.
Furthermore, the human rights advocate explained that even appealing to the court will not help those whose religion does not allow them to kill.
"In the absence of a surplus mobilisation reserve, I think this will continue for quite a while. In 5-10 years, there may be a solution, but it will not significantly affect the current situation," he noted.
As reported, the Supreme Court has defined criteria by which a person's religious affiliation may serve as grounds for not holding them accountable for "evasion" during mobilization.
Read also
Romanian Church clerics concelebrate at patronal feast in Verkhni Petrivtsi
Romanian Church and UOC clergy concelebrate at the parish's patronal feast of St. Paraskeva.
Patriarch Theophilos expresses readiness to mediate in Ukraine-Russia war
Jerusalem Patriarch calls peacemaking a spiritual duty of religious leaders.
Cherkasy ruling bishop details authorities’ plan to take over UOC cathedral
Metropolitan Theodosiy says authorities and the OCU are seeking to legalize the cathedral seizure in three steps: canceling its ownership registration, declaring it ownerless, and transferring it through the courts.
Dnipropetrovsk metropolitan offers condolences after deadly strike
Metropolitan Ireney expressed condolences to the families of those killed in the strike on Dnipro railway station and called for prayers for the wounded.
TRC officers beat and abduct UOC archimandrite in Kharkiv
Military recruitment officers and police allegedly abducted Archimandrite Volodymyr (Subbota), beating him and parishioners who tried to protect the monk.
Volyn Eparchy bids farewell to fallen soldier, son of UOC priest
Archbishop Athanasiy of Kamin-Kashyrskyi officiated at the funeral of Archpriest Feodor Sihnaievskyi’s son, who was killed in the war.