For Immediate Release
May 5, 2000
(Russian)

Russian courts protect rights of conscientious objectors

On May 5, the Gorno-Altaysk City Court in Siberia, Russia, ruled that Aleksandr Kalistratov, one of Jehovah's Witnesses, had the right to choose alternative civilian service. He had refused military service due to his conscientious religious objection. This is the third such decision in Russia during recent weeks.

On April 19, the Kalinin District Court of Cheboksary granted Oleg Lipatov's appeal against the conscription commission of the Kalinin District Military Enlistment Office. On May 3, the Judicial Chamber for Criminal Cases in Krasnodar reversed the conviction of Aleksey Miroshnichenko. Both men were Jehovah's Witnesses and had requested alternative civilian service.

"The right to refuse military service and request alternative civilian service is enshrined in Article 59.3 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation," said lawyer Artur Leontyev, "The Russian Constitutional Court has twice made this clear in rulings protecting rights of Jehovah's Witnesses. We hope these three recent judicial decisions will send a clear message to lower level officials to stop detaining and imprisoning young men only because they exercise their constitutional rights." Aleksandr Kalistratov had been detained and imprisoned 21 days before he was finally heard in court.

Aleksei Nazarychev, representative of Jehovah's Witnesses, stressed the decision to choose alternative service was an individual one. "While Jehovah's Witnesses are well known for taking a similar position, each young man must make his own decision based on the Bible. In Nazi Germany, for example, many young men among Jehovah's Witnesses refused to compromise their conscience and support Hitler's war. A number were executed for their stand." Historian Christine King, Vice Chancellor of Staffordshire University in England, described the contest in this way: "One [the Nazis] was monstrous, powerful, and seemingly invincible. The other [the Witnesses] was quite tiny . . . had only faith as his weapon, and nothing more. . . . Morally, the Jehovah's Witnesses brought the mighty Gestapo to its knees."

In the near future, another Russian court will again consider the issue when the case of Erkin Shagayev, also one of Jehovah's Witnesses, is heard in Ust-Kan of the Altay Republic.

Contact: Administrative Center of Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia
Telephone: (812) 434-38-50 Fax: (812) 437-09-70