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
Most Britons oppose abortions, poll finds
The survey found that 62% of UK residents support legal protection for unborn children from the moment their heartbeat is first detected.
Annual academic conference opens at Kyiv Theological Academy and Seminary
The fifteenth annual conference was dedicated to the anniversaries of Prince Vasyl-Kostiantyn Ostrožský and Metropolitan Rafail (Zaborovský).
Feminists attack Roman Catholic churches in Latin America
During protest actions, members of radical groups attacked cathedrals in several Latin American countries, assaulted police officers, and threw paint at believers.
UOC hierarch takes part in German bishops’ conference
Bishop Veniamin of Boyarka took part in the OBKD assembly in Düsseldorf.
Ivano-Frankivsk scraps school project planned on demolished UOC church site
The authorities in Ivano-Frankivsk have dropped plans to build the school for whose construction a UOC church was demolished.
Shostatsky to UOC: If you are so righteous – do not cling to your churches
The OCU metropolitan called on UOC faithful and clergy to pray rather than defend their churches from seizures.