Inter­na­tio­nal Support of Conscien­tious Objec­tors and Deserters

Two years after the start of the war: PRO ASYL and Connection e.V. criticise asylum rejections of Russian refusers

(21.02.2024) Two years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) continues to reject Russian refusers and obliges them to return to Russia. Connection e.V. and PRO ASYL are alarmed by the BAMF’s reasoning, which ignores the risk for Russian refusers of being recruited in a war that violates international law.

Russians refusing to go to war

What are the chances of protection and asylum?

(20.02.2024) Connection e.V. and PRO ASYL have repeatedly called for a change in the decision-making practice of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) with regard to deserters and military draft evaders, especially those from Russia. In an analysis published a year ago, it was stated that deserters from Russia could be granted protection, but not the vast majority of military draft evaders who had already evaded recruitment in Russia. The government repeatedly pointed out that the BAMF’s decision-making practice should be reviewed.

Ukraine: Tougher recruitment, but no right to conscientious objection

Connection e.V. and DFG-VK concerned about draft law

(08.02.2024) Yesterday, the Ukrainian parliament passed a draft amendment to the law on military service in its first reading that will change recruitment practices in the country. Connection e.V. and the German Peace Society – United War Resisters (DFG-VK) opposes this tightening and call on the Ukrainian government and the European Union to ensure the protection of conscientious objectors.

ECJ judgement shows: Thousands of Syrian objectors were wrongly denied asylum follow-up applications

(08.02.2024) A judgment of the Court of Justice which significantly adds to the likelihood of an asylum seeker qualifying as a beneficiary of refugee status or subsidiary protection justifies his or her subsequent application being examined on the merits and cannot be rejected as inadmissible. Member States may authorise their courts or tribunals, where they annul a decision which rejected the subsequent application as inadmissible, to rule themselves on that application and, where appropriate, grant it.