Officer Refuses to Fight for Ukraine Due to Membership in 'Jehovah's Witnesses'. What the Court Decided.

A man named Andrii K. was sentenced to three years in prison for evading mobilization in Sumy Oblast. According to an article from the portal 'Hlavkom' titled 'Very Religious Draft-Dodgers. Which Side Do the Courts Take?', in March of this year, a reserve officer, while on military record, refused to accept a draft notice that was handed to him in his own apartment.

In court, Andrii K. did not admit his guilt. He explained that he is a member of the religious center 'Jehovah's Witnesses in Ukraine' and had previously received military training at a military department in university. Despite being a member of 'Jehovah's Witnesses' since 2002, Andrii K. never declared his religious beliefs or asked to replace his military service with alternative service, nor requested to be excluded from military registration.

When Andrii K. received the draft notice, he refused to accept it on the grounds of his religious beliefs. He stated that he was willing to perform alternative service, but such an opportunity was not offered to him.

The court emphasized that although the defendant did not commit a serious crime, his behavior creates a general impression of impunity among citizens and society during the martial law and mobilization implemented across Ukraine. This significantly increases the level of public danger both from the act itself and from the offender.

Earlier, the Darnytsia District Court in Kyiv sentenced a member of the Buddhist religious organization 'Dzogchen Community' to four years in prison for evading mobilization. 

As reported by the portal 'Hlavkom', the Obolon District Court in Kyiv sentenced a conscript from Donetsk to five years in prison for evading military service during mobilization.

In Vinnytsia region, a conscript refused military service due to economic and personal circumstances.

Additionally, in Khmelnytskyi, a man who was sentenced by the court for evading mobilization had his property confiscated by the state, aside from his home.

In Ukrainian courts, there is an opinion that those convicted of evading mobilization under Article 336 of the Criminal Code should be forcibly sent to the front.