Court rules on military service refusal based on religious beliefs
A court in Cherkasy has sentenced a Jehovah’s Witness for evading mobilization, rejecting his claim of religious exemption.
According to the Judicial and Legal Newspaper, a conscript in Cherkasy refused to accept a draft notice, stating that he is a Jehovah’s Witness and cannot participate in military service due to his religious beliefs.
Case materials reveal that the man declined to sign or receive the draft notice and failed to report to the assembly point for transfer to a military unit. The court determined that this constituted evasion of conscription during mobilization under martial law.
In court, the defendant pleaded not guilty, asserting that he had been a member of the Jehovah’s Witnesses in Ukraine for over 20 years. He argued that his faith forbids him from wearing a military uniform or handling weapons and requested to perform alternative service instead. He also asked the court to acquit him. However, the court denied his request.
After reviewing the evidence, the court found the man guilty of a criminal offense under Article 336 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine and sentenced him to three years of imprisonment.
It is worth noting that the Supreme Court of Ukraine has previously ruled that during a full-scale war, the duty to defend the country applies to all citizens, regardless of their religious affiliation.
