Ukraine starts imprisoning Jehovah's Witnesses?

[Osprey]

https://forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2964

 

New detailed report about recent developments regarding our brothers (and some others) in Ukraine.

[trottigy]

6 hours ago, Osprey said:

https://forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2964

 

New detailed report about recent developments regarding our brothers (and some others) in Ukraine.

 

I can't get the forum18 site to open. Can you post a small quote from the article? 

[Tortuga]

4 minutes ago, trottigy said:

 

I can't get the forum18 site to open. Can you post a small quote from the article? 

In February and March, officials took four convicted Jehovah's Witness conscientious objectors to prison to begin serving their 3-year jail sentences. At least four other conscientious objectors – two Jehovah's Witnesses, a Pentecostal and a Baptist - will be taken to prison to begin serving their 3-year jail sentences if they lose their appeals (see below).

Perhaps 200 cases against conscientious objectors under Criminal Code Article 336 are already in court. Of these, 171 are against Jehovah's Witness, Jehovah's Witnesses told Forum 18. Others facing such prosecutions include Baptists (including Council of Churches Baptists), Pentecostals and Seventh-day Adventists (see below).

[Dré]

The Venice Commission has published an opinion on the issue of alternative non-military service in Ukraine at the request of the Constitutional Court. Strasbourg, 18 March 2025. CDL-AD(2025)006 Or. Engl.

 

https://www.coe.int/en/web/venice-commission/-/ukraine-amicus-curiae-brief-on-alternative-non-military-service

 

https://www.venice.coe.int/webforms/documents/default.aspx?pdffile=CDL-AD(2025)006-e

 

EUROPEAN COMMISSION FOR DEMOCRACY THROUGH LAW. VENICE COMMISSION.pdf

Edited March 19 by Andrey

[Dré]

On March 25, 2025, the Boryspil City District Court of the Kyiv region acquits the Jehovah's Witness. This is the second justified decision made in this court in favor of Jehovah's Witnesses during the war in Ukraine since 2022.

 

VERDICT IN THE NAME OF UKRAINE March 25, 2025 Boryspil: The accused: Suleimanov Ibrahim Oleksandrovych

https://reyestr.court.gov.ua/Review/126213555

 

Quote: PERSON_6 to be found not guilty of the charge of committing a criminal offense under Art. 336 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine due to the lack of evidence that his actions constitute a criminal offense under Art. 336 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine and to be acquitted.

 

 

 

VERDICT IN THE NAME OF UKRAINE January 12, 2024 Boryspil: The accused: Tatarov Serhii Oleksandrovych

https://reyestr.court.gov.ua/Review/116417007

 

Quote: PERSON_4 to be found not guilty of the charges brought against him under Art. 336 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine and acquitted due to the absence of a criminal offense.

 

1014756_E_cnt_1.pdf

Edited April 2 by Andrey

[Osprey]

New Forum 18 article:

 

UKRAINE: How should government deal with conscientious objectors in wartime?

https://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2974

[Dré]

Three Imprisoned for Conscientious Objection During February and March 2025 in Ukraine. An Additional Three Brothers Placed in Pretrial Detention.

https://www.jw.org/en/news/region/ukraine/Three-Imprisoned-for-Conscientious-Objection-During-February-and-March-2025-in-Ukraine/

[Dré]

The Supreme Court ruled on the refusal of military service due to religious beliefs: the duty to protect Ukraine rests with all citizens, regardless of religion.

 

The Supreme Court indicated that Ukraine has introduced alternatives to military service in peacetime, and Ukrainian citizens can freely use them, but in wartime the duty to defend Ukraine falls on all citizens of Ukraine, regardless of their religion.

 

May 1, 2025. “Judicial and Legal Newspaper”.

 

https://sud.ua/uk/news/publication/329899-verkhovnyy-sud-vyskazalsya-ob-otkaze-ot-voennoy-sluzhby-po-religioznym-ubezhdeniyam-obyazannost-zaschischat-ukrainu-vozlagaetsya-na-vsekh-grazhdan-nezavisimo-ot-veroispovedaniya

 

 

 

 

Edited May 2 by Andrey

[Cool.As.Ice]

5 hours ago, Andrey said:

The Supreme Court ruled on the refusal of military service due to religious beliefs: the duty to protect Ukraine rests with all citizens, regardless of religion.

 

The Supreme Court indicated that Ukraine has introduced alternatives to military service in peacetime, and Ukrainian citizens can freely use them, but in wartime the duty to defend Ukraine falls on all citizens of Ukraine, regardless of their religion.

 

May 1, 2025. “Judicial and Legal Newspaper”.

 

https://sud.ua/uk/news/publication/329899-verkhovnyy-sud-vyskazalsya-ob-otkaze-ot-voennoy-sluzhby-po-religioznym-ubezhdeniyam-obyazannost-zaschischat-ukrainu-vozlagaetsya-na-vsekh-grazhdan-nezavisimo-ot-veroispovedaniya

 

 

 

 

Oh boy; that ain’t good. Ukraine is proving that they are no better than Russia. Keep these brothers in your prayers, everyone. Things are going to get gnarly…

 

Here is an English article (on another website) about the situation if anyone is interested:

https://wri-irg.org/en/story/2024/ukraine-about-300-criminal-cases-against-conscientious-objectors
 

 

Edited May 2 by Cool.As.Ice

[Osprey]

Sadly it seems that question mark at the end of this topic title can be safely removed.  

[Dré]

18 hours ago, Andrey said:

The Supreme Court ruled on the refusal of military service due to religious beliefs: the duty to protect Ukraine rests with all citizens, regardless of religion.

 

The Supreme Court indicated that Ukraine has introduced alternatives to military service in peacetime, and Ukrainian citizens can freely use them, but in wartime the duty to defend Ukraine falls on all citizens of Ukraine, regardless of their religion.

 

May 1, 2025. “Judicial and Legal Newspaper”.

 

https://sud.ua/uk/news/publication/329899-verkhovnyy-sud-vyskazalsya-ob-otkaze-ot-voennoy-sluzhby-po-religioznym-ubezhdeniyam-obyazannost-zaschischat-ukrainu-vozlagaetsya-na-vsekh-grazhdan-nezavisimo-ot-veroispovedaniya

 

Quote: At the same time, the Cassation Criminal Court of the Supreme Court, following the consideration of case 573/406/24, indicated that the state's presence in the legal regime of martial law is a good reason to talk about the need for all citizens of Ukraine, including Jehovah's Witnesses, to perform military service (panel consisting of judges Natalia Antonyuk, Nadiya Stefaniv, and Stanislav Golubytsky).

 

Accused: Ivanushchenko Serhiy Viktorovych

(https://www.jw.org/finder?wtlocale=E&docid=702025077&par=5&srcid=share)

 

Supreme Court of Ukraine. Resolution In the Name of Ukraine. April 15, 2025, Kyiv. Case No. 573/406/24.

https://reyestr.court.gov.ua/Review/126906863

Edited May 3 by Andrey

[harmania]

If you think about it. Ukraine should be thankful that witnesses dont go to war. If they did. Russia would also have over 100 000 witnesses attacking them. Do they just want as many people to die as possible? I know whos will that actually is. 

[Dré]

THE SIXTH ADMINISTRATIVE COURT OF APPEALS On July 17, 2025, the adopted a simply explosive Resolution, according to which the refusal of “Jehovah's Witnesses” to perform military service is “in accordance with the law”, and “the State must ensure that such persons perform alternative non-military service.”

https://advokatmakeev.com/blog/shostij-apelyacijnij-administrativnij-sud-17-lipnya-2025-roku-prijnyav-prosto-vibuhovu-postanovu-za-yakoyu-vidmova-svidkiv-yegovi-vid-prohodzhennya-vijskovoyi-sluzhbi-v-zakoni-a-derzhava-maye-zabezpechiti-takim-osobam-prohodzhennya-alternativnoyi-nevijskovoyi

 

SIXTH ADMINISTRATIVE COURT OF APPEAL
Case No. 736/1999/24

July 17, 2025, Kyiv

https://opendatabot.ua/court/128950355-6f5a2304749acc3314575b03ae1100dc

 

SEPARATE OPINION
July 17, 2025 Kyiv

Judge of the Sixth Administrative Court of Appeal Buzhak N.P. regarding the resolution of the Sixth Administrative Court of Appeal dated July 17, 2025, adopted following the consideration of the appeal of PERSON_1 against the decision of the Koryukiv District Court of Chernihiv Region dated November 14, 2024 in case No. 736/1999/24.

https://opendatabot.ua/court/128950558-1cb0c4b32db194ffcf337b6aa62ebb97

Edited August 1 by Andrey

[Dages]

13 hours ago, Andrey said:

refusal of “Jehovah's Witnesses” to perform military service is “in accordance with the law”, and “the State must ensure that such persons perform alternative non-military service.”

JEHOVAH BE PRAISED!

[Korotkiy]

Currently 11 brothers are imprisoned in Ukraine.

[Sheep]

As if our brothers were going to take the side of Ukraine in the war! If the government wants the brothers to get involved in their war, why don't those government leaders themselves get involved and fight?

[Shawnster]

3 hours ago, Sheep said:

why don't those government leaders themselves get involved and fight?

 

 

Some folks are born made to wave the flag

Hoo, they're red, white and blue

And when the band plays "Hail to the chief"

Ooh, they point the cannon at you, Lord

 

It ain't me, it ain't me

I ain't no senator's son, son

It ain't me, it ain't me

I ain't no furtunate one, no

 

 

 

(Matthew 17:25, 26) 25 However, when he entered the house, Jesus spoke to him first and said: “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth receive duties or head tax? From their sons or from the strangers?” 26 When he said: “From the strangers,” Jesus said to him: “Really, then, the sons are tax-free.

https://www.jw.org/finder?wtlocale=E&pub=nwtsty&srctype=wol&bible=40017026&srcid=share

Edited August 2 by Shawnster

[Dré]

October 27, 2025. Ukrainian legislation does not provide for exemption from compulsory military service during mobilization on the basis of religious or other beliefs.

https://supreme.court.gov.ua/supreme/pres-centr/news/1903813/

 

This conclusion was reached by the Joint Chamber of the Criminal Cassation Court within the Supreme Court following consideration of case No. 573/838/24, Vitalii Kryushenko, October 27, 2025.

 

Quote

Ukrainian legislation does not provide for exemption from compulsory military service during mobilization on the basis of religious or other beliefs. Such beliefs cannot be grounds for exempting a person from criminal liability in the event of evasion of mobilization within the meaning of Article 336 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

 

Based on the circumstances of the criminal proceedings, the courts of previous instances found the defendant guilty and convicted him under Article 336 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine for the fact that, being fit for military service, he failed to appear at the territorial recruitment and social support center for referral to a military unit for the purpose of performing military service without valid reasons. In the cassation appeal, the defense attorney noted that the defendant had grounds for conscientious objection to military service, as such refusal was based on his sincere religious beliefs, incompatible with the performance of any military service, including service without weapons, as well as on his membership in the religious organization of Jehovah's Witnesses, whose doctrine categorically excludes the possibility of such service.

 

In assessing these cassation claims, the Joint Chamber noted that conscription for mobilization may entail the performance of non-combat military duties that do not require the carrying and use of weapons (repair of equipment, evacuation of the wounded, construction of fortifications, etc.).

 

The Joint Chamber recognized that the impossibility of refusing military service on grounds of conscience, as established by law, means that such a restriction must be applied in proportion to the objective pursued, even when defending the homeland from aggression. Considerations related to conscience cannot be completely excluded during wartime, so conscription into military service during mobilization does not automatically cancel the right to conscientious objection to carrying or using weapons.

 

Edited Monday at 03:05 PM by Dré

[Korotkiy]

Last weekend`s congregation meeting in a military training camp on Yavoriv military training ground near Lviv.

Our dear brothers.

 

 

Edited Monday at 04:03 PM by Korotkiy

[Osprey]

What is the story behind that picture? I assume they were forcibly taken there and are now kept there while refusing to serve in army? Russia sometimes bombs such camps, I am very worried about our brothers being kept in military camps.

[Korotkiy]

Yes, it is very common practice that brothers has been forcefully grabbing on a streets (or another places) by military territorial center officers and after (just formal) medic comission moved to a military training camps.

Camps usually are in other territory than they are live.

 

Almost all they are under pressure to take military uniform or agree to non-armous war service (there are even war division from Baptists or Adventisis that are performing tasks without weapons). Brothers sometines are under physical violence.

All they can to do is to wait and carry water and chop a wood.

 

Sad but they are legally already militaries and under criminal article for disobedience (5-10 years) - no difference between they will stay in camp or will became a "tourisis". The last is often not possible, but sometimes militaries speaks frankly - you are annoying us, there were open gates, no cameras at the night, but you should understand that you are legally military at the moment and a desertion from a military unit is a 5-10 years of prison. 

 

Somebody  is helping those "tourists" by catching them in the field and provide shelter, helping to got home, almost it is impossible by public transport as a bus stations are patrolled.
Brothers from our congr. also walked this way. 

 

Some brothers are not leaving their homes even to shop and are on a meetings in zoom all the time. 

 

Regarding to danger in military camps - most all the attacked camps are for a real military training, not a basic training, and mostly brothers don't get there. But no guarantee. 

[Dré]

The next announcement from the Branch Committee in Ukraine on October 28, 2025.

 

Dear brothers and sisters! Yesterday, on October 27, the United Parliament of the Supreme Court of Ukraine made a decision on the case of brother Vitalii Kryushenko. In its decision, the court supported the charge against brother Kryushenko.

 

At the same time, the court replaced the punishment of brother Kryushenko from three years in prison to one year on condition, and yesterday, in the evening, he was released from prison. We are glad that on the basis of the decision made by the Supreme Court, brother Kryushenko could leave his place of imprisonment.

 

However, it is very unfortunate that the Supreme Court of Ukraine recognized the offender of the law as a person who, out of sincerity, and on the basis of his conscience, refuses military service. As soon as the full text of the court's decision is received, our legal department, along with the Department of Freedom and Repentance, analyze the arguments of the court decision and prepare the appropriate recommendation for further protection of brothers in the territory of our Branch.

 

In the first century, people did not evaluate the motives and actions of God's Son correctly. Although we can expect a similar situation to us today, we are glad that they are true followers. We ask you to continue to pray zealously for brothers so that they can continue to hold on to the name of Christ.

 

Your brothers, the Branch Committee.

 

Also, we have a pleasant surprise for this announcement, which we can see on our screens. Thank you for your attention.

 

 

Edited 14 hours ago by Dré

[Dages]

19 minutes ago, Dré said:

in the evening, he was released from prison. We are glad that on the basis of the decision made by the Supreme Court, brother Kryushenko could leave his place of imprisonment.

Jehovah be praised, that's a step in the right direction