Three years after the start of the war in Ukraine: Presentations available to watch

On March 3rd Connection e.V and WRI hosted the webinar "Three years after the start of the war in Ukraine" where activists from Russia, Belarus and Ukraine shared how's the current situation in their countries regarding conscription and the situation of Conscientious Objection to military service. The presentations are available on our Youtube channel and below:

Artem Kygla

In his presentation, Artem from the Movemente of Conscientious Objection Russia, talked about the current status of conscientious objectors in Russia in light of the ongoing war in Ukraine, focusing on the legal obstacles and changes in conscription policies. He highlighted the dangers conscripts face and the law adjustments that allow Russian authorities to deploy conscripts in active combat zones. Additionally, his presentation addressed the hardships young men endure under mobilization and the exploitation of marginalized groups.

Olga Karatch

Olga Karatch discussed the alarming situation in Belarus regarding military conscription and the government's increasing control over young men. She highlighted the harsh realities for conscientious objectors, the significant change in legislation, and the specific challenges faced by Belarusian youth against mandatory military service amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Yurii Sheliazhenko

Yurii shared the current situation for conscientious objectors in Ukraine three years after the war began. He highlighted ongoing repression, the challenges faced by advocates for peace, and the lack of support for nonviolent resistance amid military pressures. In his presentation, Yurii emphasized the need for international advocacy and changes in Ukrainian law to protect human rights and encourage peaceful resolutions.

Rudi Friedrich

Rudi presented the asylum situation for Russian and Ukrainian conscripts who refuse military service due to the ongoing war. He highlighted the legal distinctions between conscientious objectors, draft evaders, and deserters, and examined the challenges they face when seeking asylum in European countries. Notably, he shares statistics on asylum applications and legal rulings related to conscription and military service in Russia and Ukraine.

You can watch the recordings of previous webinars and online events on our YouTube channel. Click here to explore more.