Prisoners for Peace List: December 2024

The following list includes individuals who have been imprisoned for their nonviolent resistance and conscientious objection to military service. These Prisoners for Peace from Belarus, Eritrea, Singapore, and other countries are incarcerated for their commitment to peace, justice, and human rights.

This list is being updated regularly. You can write to us via info@wri-irg.org for any updates or suggestions.

Belarus

The following names are provided by our affiliate, Nash Dom (Our House), a Belarusian human rights organisation based in Lithuania. If you would like to read more from Nash Dom, see their website here,

Danuta Perednya, age 22.

Danuta Perednya called for non-violent protests in the streets if the Belarusian army goes to war in Ukraine.

• Detention Centre: IK-4, Antonoshkina St. 3, 246035
• Sentence date:  July 1, 2022 (6 years and 6 months)

Pavel Piskun, age 20

Pavel Piskun attempted to stop the movement of Russian military equipment in Belarus through nonviolent means.

• Detention Centre: IK No. 3, 211300, Vitba village, Vitebsk region, Vitebsk district
• Sentence date: July 18, 2022 (3 years of imprisonment)

Iryna Abdukeryna, age 52

Iryna Abdukeryna tried to prevent the movement of Russian military equipment in Belarus by non-violent means

• Detention Centre: IK-4, Antonoshkina St. 3, 246035
• Sentence date: December 6, 2022 (4 years of imprisonment)

Dzianis Urad, age 33

A military officer who openly opposed the violent actions taken by the Belarusian army to disperse peaceful demonstrators in Belarus. He was charged with treason and sentenced to 19 years in prison, narrowly avoiding a death sentence.

• Dentention Centre: Prison No. 4, Krupskaya str. 99A, Mogilev, 212011
• Sentence date: May 14, 2021 (18 years of imprisonment)

Eritrea

All following prisoners are Jehovah’s Witnesses. They are not charged or sentenced. Initially, and for many years, the Jehovah’s Witnesses have reported that these 4 individuals, and many others, were imprisoned for conscientious objection to military service. Since January 2021 the indication has changed to “undisclosed reason”.

Bereket Habteyesus, age 32

• Detention Centre: Mai Serwa Prison
• Arrest date: 26 May 2014

Henok Gebru, age 42

• Detention Centre: Mai Serwa Prison
• Arrest date: 24 January 2005

Samuel Ghirmay, age 37

• Detention Centre: Mai Serwa Prison
• Arrest date: March 2009

Yosief Fissehaie, age 37

• Detention Centre: Mai Serwa Prison
• Arrest date: October 2006

Germany

Susan Crane, age 81

• Susan Crane, originally from California, USA, is imprisoned (from June 4th 2024 until January 18th 2025) for not paying fines she received for her actions of civil disobedience at Büchel Air Base, calling for the disarmament of the US nuclear weapons that are stationed in Germany. For more information in English see: www.noelhuis.nl/kernwapensweg
• Write her until 18th January 2025 via: Susan Crane, JVA Koblenz - Offener Vollzug, Simmerner Str. 14 a, 56075 Koblenz, Germany 

Miriam Menzel-Krämer

• Sentenced to prison (from 4th December until 18th December) for participating in a non-violent action at Büchel Air Base against nuclear weapons
• Write to Miriam via: JVA Herlikofer Str. 19, 73527 Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany

Israel

Itamar Greenberg, age 18

• Itamar is imprisoned for refusing to serve in the Israeli military and has already spent 105 days in prison, having initially refused to enlist on 7 August. He has now been jailed for another 45 days. Write your messages of solidarity to Itamar using the the online form here.

Yuval Moav, age 18

• Yuval is imprisoned for refusing to serve in the Israeli military on 7th August 2024. Yuval is still serving a sentence of 125 days which could yet be extended. Write your messages of solidarity to Yuval using the online form here.

Iddo Eilam, age 18

• Iddo is jailed on 27th November, facing 30 days in prison for refusing to serve in the Israeli military. Write your messages of solidarity to Iddo using the online form here.

Soul Behar Tzalik, age 18

• Soul is jailed on 27th November, facing 30 days in prison for refusing to serve in the Israeli military. Write your messages of solidarity to Soul using the online form here.

Russia

The following names, who have been convicted of so-called ‘crimes against military service’ including AWOL, desertion, and refusal to obey orders, are provided by our affiliate the Russian Movement of Conscientious Objectors (MCO). You can find more detailed information (in Russian) on MCO's Telegram channel here.

You can send them an email through the Zonatelecom service. 

Alexander Vladimirovich Chernov, age 39

• Orenburg region, penal colony-1
• Alexander was sentenced to 4 years in prison for AWOL. He came home on leave due to his wife's illness. He did not return to the war zone.

Denis Narolsky, age 31

• Rostov region, pre-trial detention centre-1
• Denis is accused of desertion and treason. He faces up to life imprisonment.

Yevgeny Poloskov, age 30

• Krasnoyarsk region, pre-trial detention centre-1
• Evgeny left the unit to avoid going to war.

Andrey Sergeevich Chelnokov, age 34

• Primorsky Krai, KP-49
• Convicted for refusing to obey an order despite being declared unfit for military service for health reasons.

Maxim Olegovich Ivanidi, age 24

• Krasnodar region, pre-trial detention centre-1
• Maxim left the unit in order not to fight.

Kharisov Ilnar Ilgizarovich, age 32

• Republic of Tatarstan, penal colony-8 (Almetyevsk).
• Convicted for unauthorised abandonment of the unit. Ilnar left the unit in order not to go to war.

Singapore

Li Ming Alexander, age 22

• Detention Centre: Armed Forces Detention Barracks
• Term: 2nd Term (18 months) (Release: 28 December 2024)

Ray Young Bong, age 22

• Detention Centre: Armed Forces Detention Barracks
• Term: 2nd Term (18 months) (Release: 11 February 2025)

Norvin Cj Marc Gongon Dacanay, age 20

• Detention Centre: Armed Forces Detention Barracks
• Term: 1st Term (12 months) (Release:09 January 2025)

Yong Seng Michael Lim, age 21

• Detention Centre: Armed Forces Detention Barracks
• Term: 2nd Term (18 months) (Release: 02 January 2026)

Yishuo Lin, age 19

• Detention Centre: Armed Forces Detention Barracks
• Term: 1st Term (12 months) (Release: 04 April 2025)

Chuang Xu Daniel Poh, age 21

• Detention Centre: Armed Forces Detention Barracks
• Term: 2nd Term (18 months) (Release: 12 February 2026)

Johnrey Omar Yu Quiseo, age 21

• Detention Centre: Armed Forces Detention Barracks
• Term: Awaiting 2nd Court Martial

Theodore Wijaya, age 20

• Detention Centre: Armed Forces Detention Barracks
• Term: Awaiting 1st Court Martial

Thailand

Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal 

• Conscientious objector Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal isn't behind bars at the moment but is facing prison time for refusing to be enlisted in the Thai military. Netiwit is scheduled to meet with the public prosecutor on December 3, when a decision on indictment is expected. 
• For messages of solidarity, write to: Delicious Democracy, 2/4 Sab Rd Sri Praya, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500, Thailand
• Also, you can write to Netiwit on Facebook here.

Ukraine

Dmytro Zelinsky, age 46

• Seventh-day Adventist conscientious objector Dmytro Zelinsky is serving a three-year jail term under Criminal Code Article 336 ("Refusing call-up for military service during mobilisation or in a special period, and for military service during call-up of reservists in a special period").
• Zelinsky is currently held at Prison No. 41 in Kolomyia in Ivano-Frankivsk Region: 78250, Ivano-Frankivska obl., Kolomiisky raion, Selo Tovmachik, Vul. Privokzalna bud. 30, Kolomiiska vipravna koloniya No. 41, Ukraine