Belarus

This page lists individuals currently imprisoned for their conscientious objection, peaceful beliefs, or nonviolent actions. These cases highlight the challenges faced by people jailed for exercising their rights, including freedom of thought, conscience, religion, and peaceful expression.

Today, June 26th​​​​​​​ 2025, at the UN in Geneva, the Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus took place as part of the 59th session of the UN Human Rights Council. On this occasion, Connection e.V. and War Resisters’ International delivered a statement in the plenary, addressing the right to conscientious objection to military service and the increasing militarisation of the educational system in Belarus.

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 to watch and share now.

The International Centre for Civil Initiatives “Our House”, Conscience and Peace Tax International (CPTI), the Center on Conscience & War, the European Bureau for Conscientious Objection (EBCO), the International Fellowship of Reconciliation, the Fellowship of Reconciliation USA (FORUSA), the International Fellowship of Reconciliation Austria, MIR France, the International Peace Bureau, World BEYOND War, and War Resisters’ International, jointly submit a report for the UN Universal Periodic Review of Belarus.

On February 23rd, a protest took place at Kudirki Square in Vilnius, organized by Belarusian organizations in exile, including WRI's affiliate Our House, along with other initiatives. The demonstration gathered around 25–30 participants who expressed their strong opposition to the presence of Russian foreign military bases in Belarus.

Three years ago, Russia attacked Ukraine, resulting in devastating consequences. Yet, there are also hundreds of thousands of individuals in Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine who have refused to participate in the war. What is the state of their right to conscientious objection? What about their protection? Join us in this discussion with peace activists and campaigners from Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. 

On 16 February 2023, in the resolution ‘One year of Russia’s invasion and war of aggression against Ukraine’, the EU Parliament demanded that Member States provide protection for conscientious objectors and deserters fleeing Belarus, Russia, and occupied Ukraine. However, this is not guaranteed in most Member States.

The following list includes individuals who have been imprisoned for their nonviolent resistance to war and conscientious objection to military service.

The 56th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council took place in Geneva between 18th June and 12th July 2024. During the 56th Session, War Resisters’ International, in collaboration with Connection e.V., has made oral statements on the right to conscientious objection to military service on several occasions.

Lithuania should protect Belarusian conscientious objectors and deserters, grant adequate legal protection and prevent their deportation!

Oops, what are Berlin ad posters doing in Helsinki? And why are they campaigning for asylum for conscientious objectors? The "adbusted" posters are calling for asylum for conscientious objectors from Belarus and Russia.

The European Bureau for Conscientious Objection, War Resisters’ International, the International Fellowship of Reconciliation IFOR, and Connection e.V.  condemn the 12-year prison sentence and a fine of 170,000 Euros imposed on EBCO board member Olga Karach in her recent trial in Belarus.