Army enlistment office demands from JWs renounce faith in writing to be allowed alternative service

[Guest Kurt]

In Crimea, the draft commission demanded from the draftee - Jehovah's Witness - a document to renounce his faith and change his faith.

On June 9, 2017, the believer, once again visiting the local military commissariat, was offered an alternative civil service (ACS). He agreed, adding that he has been trying to achieve this for a long time. But then he was told that the right to the passage of the ACS would be granted only if he renounced his religious views.

In two summons from the recruit they were asked to appear at the military registration and enlistment office "to provide documents on the change of faith." The believer was not told exactly which faith he should go to, and where to get such documents, but added that if he refused, he would go to court.

Article 28 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation guarantees to every citizen "the right to profess ... any religion or not to profess any". Neither the Supreme Court nor any other court has ever limited this right to Jehovah's Witnesses, nor did it prohibit the views of Jehovah's Witnesses as criminal.

Article 59 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation reads: "A citizen of the Russian Federation in the event that his conscience or religion contradicts the performance of military service, as well as in other cases established by federal law, has the right to replace it with an alternative civilian service." The law does not stipulate what kind of convictions the conscript should have.

source <<click (above are google Translated)