Ukraine Develops Law on Alternative Service Due to Religious Beliefs - Yelensky

During a roundtable discussion in Kyiv dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the mass deportation of members of the religious organization Jehovah's Witnesses, Viktor Yelensky, the head of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience, unveiled an important initiative. He announced that a draft law on alternative non-military service is being developed in Ukraine, aimed at safeguarding the rights of those who, due to their religious beliefs, are unable to fulfill military service obligations.

Yelensky emphasized that Ukraine has a robust system for protecting religious freedom; however, the ongoing war poses a serious challenge to this system. 'As we know, many freedoms are restricted during wartime, but the freedom of conscience is not one of them. Is enough being done to protect this freedom, and are all legal mechanisms being utilized? I think not,' he stressed.

Specifically, Yelensky reported that work is currently underway with colleagues from the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Justice to create a draft law that would regulate the issues surrounding alternative non-military service. 'This law directly concerns Jehovah's Witnesses,' he added.

The head of the State Service also noted that the Law on Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations, adopted in 1991, was a significant achievement at that time. However, he pointed out that it does not take into account the realities of war today. 'This law is not adapted to wartime and is tailored to conscription, which is currently non-existent,' Yelensky remarked, highlighting the need for legislative adaptation to modern conditions.

He further emphasized that developing a law on alternative non-military service in wartime is an extraordinarily complex task. 'The very concept of human rights, as it exists now, emerged after World War II. At that time, the socio-political and moral-value space that accepts this concept had never experienced a war like the one Ukraine is currently enduring,' he added.

Despite the lack of a legal framework for alternative non-military service, Yelensky believes that Ukraine still adheres to standards of freedom of conscience. 'The Ukrainian state is trying to facilitate this for clergy who cannot take up arms and for leaders of religious organizations who must support their religious communities. I believe that Ukraine is navigating this period with a commendable adherence to standards regarding the observance of freedom of conscience,' he concluded.

Currently, Ukraine is commemorating the 75th anniversary of Operation North, during which the communist regime mass-deported members of the Jehovah's Witnesses organization to Siberia. The teachings of this organization prohibit its members from taking up arms, wearing military uniforms, and participating in wars due to religious beliefs grounded in the biblical principle of love and the commandment 'thou shalt not kill.'

Additionally, as reported by Ukrinform, in the occupied city of Kerch, Jehovah's Witness representative Vitaliy Buryka was sentenced to six years in a penal colony, highlighting the ongoing repression against members of this religious organization in Ukraine.

Photos from Ukrinform can be purchased here.

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