Conscientious objection again

The applicant in Rutkauskas v Lithuania [2025] ECHR Application no. 15816/20 was a Jehovah’s Witness and religious minister who was called up for military service under the Law on Conscription. He refused on grounds of religious belief and asked to perform civilian service instead. His request was refused, and the military authorities also decided not to exempt him from initial mandatory military service [1]. Appeals to the domestic courts were unsuccessful.

Before the ECHR, he complained under Article 9 of the Convention that, despite his genuinely-held religious beliefs and his conscience, he was denied the right to refuse military service. Even though he had never denied his civic obligations, no alternative civilian service had been provided for by Lithuanian law [4]. Continue reading →