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

Relics stolen from Catholic Church in Czechia

At the Basilica of Saints Lawrence and Zdislava, an unknown intruder smashed a display case and stole the saint’s 800-year-old skull.

Head of Germany’s largest media group: We must all become Zionists

The media executive urged Europeans to defend the Jewish state in order to preserve their own freedom and security.

Church сonsecrated after restoration in Zaporizhzhia Eparchy of UOC

Metropolitan Luke of Zaporizhzhia and Melitopol performed the rite of great consecration and celebrated the first Liturgy in the renovated church.

Sand for construction of Yermak’s residence brought from cemetery, MP says

MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak said that sand illegally removed from a cemetery in Ukrainka was used in the construction of the elite Dynasty cooperative in Kozyn.

Italian court recognizes family with three parents as legal

In Bari, the appellate court ordered authorities to register an adoption according to which a child is listed as having two "fathers" and one mother.

Archaeologists discover biblical Bethsaida on shore of Sea of Galilee

Researchers have discovered a first-century residential house beneath the apse of a Byzantine church and a mosaic inscription mentioning the Apostle Peter.