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.

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