Photo: Constitution of the Russian Federation
Denial of a Believer's Right to Replace Military Service with Alternative Civilian Service
ChuvashiaAn 18-year-old believer, Abel Lukin from the city of Shumerlya (Chuvashia), was sent to the Strategic Missile Forces (!) by the draft commission. The official protocol of the draft commission provides the motivation:
"Obviously, the Russian state itself does not believe that Jehovah's Witnesses are 'extremists'! - says Yaroslav Sivulsky from the European Association of Christian Jehovah's Witnesses.- Otherwise, would the "extremist" have been sent to serve in the Strategic Missile Forces?! At the same time, all members of the commission voted unanimously.
The believer is trying to challenge the decision of the draft board through the courts.