Protection and asylum for all those from Russia, Belarus and Ukraine who refuse military service

Call for actions from 8 to 21 May 2023

War is a crime against humanity. We condemn Russia’s war of aggression on Ukraine, which is contrary to international law and has led to hundreds of thousands of deaths and injuries and millions of refugees. Those who are sent to the front by their governments are particularly affected.

Many people from Russia and Belarus, but also from Ukraine, that are threatened with military service are trying to avoid it: They do not want to kill other people and they do not want to die in this war. Soldiers at the front want to lay down their weapons in the face of the horror. They are all threatened by their governments with repression and prison sentences, in Belarus even up to the death penalty. Note that conscientious objection is an internationally recognised human right!

  • We demand from the governments of Russia, Belarus and Ukraine: Stop the persecution of conscientious objectors and deserters immediately!

  • We demand from the EU and the government: Open the borders! Protect conscientious objectors and deserters from Russia, Belarus and Ukraine and give them asylum.

For this we organise around the “International Day of Conscientious Objection”, 15 May, rallies and demonstrations in front of Russian, Belarusian and Ukrainian government institutions as well as EU representations, vigils in front of deserter monuments and many other creative actions in different places. We emphasise: Conscientious objection is a human right!

#ObjectWarCampaign #StandWithObjectors

 

Initiated by: act for transformation; Arbeitsgemeinschaft Dienst für den Frieden (AGDF); Arbeitskreis Asyl Tribsees; BOCS Civilization Planning Foundation, Ungarn; Bund für Soziale Verteidigung; Connection e.V.; Church and Peace – Friedenskirchliches Netzwerk; Deutsche Friedensgesellschaft – Vereinigte KriegsdienstgegnerInnen (DFG-VK); Ev. Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Kriegsdienstverweigerung und Frieden (EAK); Flüchtlingsrat Niedersachsen e.V., graswurzelrevolution; Hessischer Flüchtlingsrat; Internationale der Kriegsdienstgegner*innen (IDK); Internationale Ärzt*innen für die Verhütung des Atomkrieges – Ärzt*innen in sozialer Verantwortung e.V. (IPPNW); International Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFOR); Komitee für Grundrechte und Demokratie e.V.; Lebenshaus Schwäbische Alb e.V.; NaturFreunde Deutschlands; Netzwerk Friedenskooperative; pax christi – Deutsche Sektion e.V.; Pro Asyl; Ukrainische Pazifistische Bewegung; War Resisters‘ International; (as of: 20. April 2023)

Further information, resources and action ideas

Object War Campaign