Venice Commission to review alternative service issue in Ukraine
Illustrative photo: dalma.news
On December 4, 2024, the Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine sent a written request for an amicus curiae opinion to the Venice Commission regarding alternative (non-military) service, according to the Commission's official website.
The draft amicus curiae brief will be submitted for adoption at the 142nd plenary session of the Commission on March 14–15, 2025.
Currently, Ukraine faces a legal gap regarding the application of alternative civilian service (ACS) during wartime. While the right to alternative service is guaranteed during peacetime, under martial law courts have broad discretion in interpreting this right, according to commentary from the Telegram channel "Christians Against War". It has been noted that this situation has resulted in dozens of Ukrainian believers who refuse military service facing criminal prosecution.
As previously reported by the UOJ, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs claimed that Ukraine does not violate believers' rights.
Read also
Three monastic tonsures performed at Mezhyrich Monastery
New monks were tonsured in the Rivne Eparchy of the UOC.
Rector of Kozary parish, where OCU seized church, reposes in the Lord
A priest of the Nizhyn Eparchy, who served until his last days in a community deprived of its church, has reposed in the Lord.
MP: In Kyiv's botanical garden we have to listen to Church Slavonic dialect
MP Solomiya Bobrovska expressed dissatisfaction with the broadcast of Divine services from the Trinity-St. Jonah Monastery of the capital.
Volyn deputies call to verify UOC's right to use church in Hishyn
The Volyn Regional Council decided to find out whether UOC believers are legally using a 16th-century wooden church.
Vatican warns of rising Christianophobia in the West
Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu stated about systemic discrimination against Christian symbols in Europe amid demonstrative tolerance towards other religions.