Write to your MP using our template letter
Ask your MP to contact Foreign Secretary David Cameron calling upon him to raise concerns about the rights of conscientious objectors in these three countries at a diplomatic level. You can, of course, put your own personal touch on this letter if you like. But do remember to add your full name and address to your message to show that you are a constituent. Without these, your MP is unlikely to send a response. Please see our guide if you would like more advice on how to write to your MP (PDF). And please let us know if your MP responds by contacting us at peace@quaker.org.uk.
Your name
Address
Date
Conscientious Objection in Ukraine, the Russian Federation and Belarus
Dear _____
As we look forward to the UN Human Rights Day on 10 December, celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, I'm writing to draw your attention to the precarious state of the right to conscientious objection in Ukraine, the Russian Federation and Belarus and to ask for your support in championing this fundamental human right.
As the right to conscientious objection has gained a wide hold over the last century, countless people have benefitted from the recognition that they should not be persecuted or prosecuted for refusing to act against their conscience or religion. Today this right is recognised by international bodies and standards, including the UN and the European Convention on Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (to all of which Ukraine is a party). It's a human right inherent in the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, and non-derogable even in a time of war or public emergency. In none of the three countries is this human right implemented in the way required by international law.
In Ukraine, there is supposedly a legal right to conscientious objection. However, this has in effect been suspended since the Russian invasion began. One conscientious objector has been handed a prison sentence while nine have been given suspended prison sentences. Two further acquittals are being challenged by prosecutors and another seven trials are ongoing. There have also been many reports of conscientious objectors fleeing the country – despite this having been made illegal under martial law for men from 18 to 60.
In the Russian Federation, Article 59 of the Constitution guarantees the right to refuse military service. However, this right has often been denied to reservists and those already serving, either as professional soldiers or conscripts. Military courts have sentenced at least four conscientious objectors to prison for their refusal on religious grounds to fight in Ukraine. Two others have been imprisoned for protesting against the war on religious grounds.
For many years, the Belarusian regime has handed out prison sentences and fines to those who refuse military service. A 2016 law on Alternative Service did not include a provision for non-religious conscientious objectors. Of the tens of thousands of Belarusians who have sought sanctuary in neighbouring Lithuania, more than a thousand are at risk of expulsion, putting them at grave risk of prosecution.
The following are two examples of cases from Ukraine and the Russian Federation. They're illustrative of the persecution of conscientious objectors that we are calling upon the UK government to oppose.
* Seventh-day Adventist Dmytro Zelinsky (45) is serving a three-year prison sentence in Kolomyia for refusing to serve in the Ukrainian army for reasons of conscience. Zelinsky had volunteered to serve in some civilian capacity but this was rejected by the court.
* Russian Baptist Vyacheslav Reznichenko, a reservist from Vladivostok called up in September 2022, declared that he would not fight in Ukraine because his denomination forbids the use of weapons. In June this year, he was sentenced to 30 months' imprisonment under legislation introduced to punish the non-fulfilment of orders during combat operations.
In light of this, I ask that you write to the Foreign Secretary, Lord Cameron, asking him what the Foreign Office is doing to ensure that the right to conscientious objection is being upheld in Ukraine, Russia and Belarus, and to raise concerns through diplomatic channels wherever possible (particularly with the Ukrainian authorities, with whom the British government has close diplomatic ties).
The UK was the first country to legally recognise the right to conscientious objection, in 1916, and has been a leading state in supporting the right internationally. I hope you will join in defending it now that it is under such threat. I look forward to reading your response.
Yours in peace,
Join us in London on 7 December for an embassy walk and letter delivery
We've called upon peace, faith-based and human rights organisations to sign letters we've co-authored with FoR and WRI. They're addressed to the authorities in Ukraine and Russia and call on them to respect the right to conscientious objection and to stop persecuting those who wish to avail themselves of that right and their defenders. We're going to deliver the letters during a walk between embassies.
- When: 1–1.45pm on Thursday 7 December
- Where: Meet outside the Embassy of the Russian Federation 6/7 Kensington Palace Gardens London, W8 4QP (nearest tube Queensway or Notting Hill Gate).
- What next: After delivering our letter we will walk or roll just under a mile to the Ukrainian Embassy at 60 Holland Park London, W11 3SJ (nearest tube Holland Park).
Inform yourself and hold the campaign in the light
Here you can read the text of the letters we're delivering to the Russian and Ukrainian embassies:
Mr Andrei Kelin
Ambassador, Embassy of the Russian Federation
6/7 Kensington Palace Gardens
London W8 4QP
Dear Ambassador Kelin,
We are writing to you as a group of peace, faith-based and human rights organisations based in the UK. We wish to express our grave concern regarding the situation of conscientious objectors from Russia and human rights defenders working on their behalf.
The right to conscientious objection to military service is inherent in the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This is reflected in the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights and guaranteed under Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Russia is party to both of these frameworks and has a duty to uphold them. This universal right is non-derogable even in a time of public emergency, as stated in Article 4(2) of the ICCPR.
Following continued reports of difficulties in claiming the right to conscientious objection, we call on Russia to safeguard the right to conscientious objection to military service, particularly during this current time of armed conflict, and to do so fully complying with international standards.
We strongly condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine. We urge Russia to immediately and unconditionally release all soldiers and mobilised civilians who have objected to engaging in the war and are illegally detained and reportedly face ill-treatment. It is also vital that human rights organisations and human rights defenders working on their behalf are not persecuted.
We have written in similar terms to the Ukrainian embassy.
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Mr Eduard Fesko
Embassy of Ukraine
60 Holland Park
London W11 3SJ
Dear Mr Fesko,
We are writing to you as a group of peace, faith-based and human rights organisations based in the UK. We wish to express our grave concern regarding the situation of conscientious objectors from Ukraine and human rights defenders working on their behalf.
The right to conscientious objection to military service is inherent in the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This is reflected in the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights and guaranteed under Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Ukraine is party to both of these frameworks and has a duty to uphold them. This universal right is non-derogable even in a time of public emergency, as stated in Article 4(2) of the ICCPR.
Following continued reports of difficulties in claiming the right to conscientious objection, we call on Ukraine to safeguard the right to conscientious objection to military service, particularly during this current time of armed conflict, and to do so fully complying with international standards.
We strongly condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine. We urge Ukraine to immediately and unconditionally release and drop charges against those conscientious objectors who have been detained or prosecuted. It is also vital to ensure that human rights organisations and human rights defenders working on their behalf are not persecuted.
We have written in similar terms to the Russian embassy.