Protection & asylum for deserters and conscientious objectors from Russia, Belarus and Ukraine
Dear friends,
Please sign the petition below to the European Commission/Council/Parliament demanding “protection and asylum for deserters and conscientious objectors” from Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and to “open the borders to those who oppose war at great personal risk in their country”.
The petition can be signed by organisations or individuals.
An Appeal to the European bodies was signed by 60 organisations in June of this year. Your signature on this petition will strengthen and publicise that appeal. The petition will be handed in early next year during an action in front of the European Commission in Brussels.
This petition is run by Connection e.V., International Fellowship of Reconciliation, European Bureau for Conscientious Objection and War Resisters’ International.
Payday men’s network, working with the Global Women’s Strike, campaigns for the right to refuse to fight for all soldiers, conscientious objectors, deserters and people who refuse conscription.
We highlight the situation of women – mothers, sisters, daughters, wives – who in our experience almost always lead campaigns for justice. Even the US State Department reported that most of the anti-war protestors in Russia and Belarus, including those leading the protests are women: this must be true of Ukraine.
The situation is urgent for refuseniks: Ukraine has suspended conscientious objection and men between the ages of 18 and 60 are forbidden from leaving the country, and European borders are being closed to Russian and Belarusian refuseniks. The penalty in Russia for refusing the draft is up to 10 years in prison and in Ukraine, it is at least one year, and likely much higher.
We see this initiative as beginning to make the case that all refuseniks in all countries must have the right to protection and asylum. Please sign up now!
Dear Ursula von der Leyen, dear Charles Michel, dear Roberta Metsola,
We ask you to:
· Grant protection and asylum to deserters and conscientious objectors from Belarus and the Russian Federation!
· Urge the Ukrainian government to stop persecuting conscientious objectors to military service and to guarantee them a full right to conscientious objection!
· Open the borders to those who oppose war at great personal risk in their country!