Draft:Movement of Conscientious Objectors
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Движение сознательных отказчиков
(ДСО) | |
| File:Stoparmy dso updated.png | |
| Formation | 2013 |
|---|---|
| Type | Non-profit NGO |
| Purpose | non-profit public association |
| Website | https://stoparmy.org/ |
The Movement of Conscientious Objectors (Russian: Движение сознательных отказчиков от военной службы) is a Russian non-profit public association established in 2013[1] to provide legal and psychological support to conscientious objectors to military service[2]. The movement counsels citizens who wish to refuse military service for reasons of conscientious objection, and helps them obtain deferment or exemption from compulsory military service[1][3].
After the outbreak of full-scale war in Ukraine, the movement also began assisting individuals on the front lines[1]. During mobilization in Russia, representatives of the movement provided legal advice to help citizens avoid unlawful military conscription[4].
In 2023, the movement was nominated by the International Peace Bureau for the Nobel Peace Prize for its work in defense of human rights[5]. In the same year, the organization was recognized as a "foreign agent" in Russia[6].
History
[edit]The Movement of Conscientious Objectors was founded in 2013, having split from the human rights organization "Soldiers' Mothers of St. Petersburg". Elena Popova and Miroslav Mishinov, the future founders of the Movement of Conscientious Objectors, started their activities in the human rights sphere in 2009, working in the "Soldiers' Mothers of St. Petersburg" and creating the community "For Alternative Civilian Service"[7].
In the beginning, the Movement of Conscientious Objectors actively used the VKontakte platform.
Since 2022, after the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Movement of Conscientious Objectors has expanded its work. The organization began advising not only conscripts, but also those already on the front lines, on how to refuse military service.
In August 2022, the Movement of Conscientious Objectors launched a Change.org petition calling for the abolition of conscription in Russia and the return home of conscripts fighting in Ukraine, which has garnered over 30,000 signatures[1][8].
Following the announcement of mobilization, representatives of the movement provided legal consultations to conscripts, defending their right to conscientious objection[4][8].
The Movement participates in international human rights activities, signing a joint appeal to the European Parliament together with more than a hundred organizations. The appeal raises the issues of protecting conscientious objectors, deserters, and prisoners of war, as well as creating visa procedures for their transit to the EU[9].
The organization has also asked the Dutch Ministry of Justice to investigate suicides among asylum seekers[10].
Organization structure
[edit]The Movement of Conscientious Objectors is a decentralized organization with a horizontal decision-making structure[2]. Activities are supported by volunteers, coordinators, and staff members[1].
Governance
[edit]The governing body is the Coordinators' office, which determines the direction of activities and sets financial and strategic plans. Operational management is carried out by the director, who is elected by the Coordinators' office for a term of up to three years without the right to re-election. The day-to-day work is ensured by the Office — a group of full-time employees led by the director[2].
Additional structures include Telegram chats, with about 900 participants as of 2023, and volunteer working groups that self-define their scope of work[1].
Fields and Practices
[edit]The mission of the Movement of Conscientious Objectors is a movement towards a free world without violence. The organization works for the protection of human rights, declaring non-discrimination, awareness, and solidarity as its core values[3].
The Movement works in the following areas:
1. Legal and counseling support [1][5]
- Providing free legal assistance and counseling on issues of refusal of military service
- Preparation of guidance materials and sample documents[10];
- Assistance in obtaining deferment or exemption from conscription
- Psychological and moral support for conscientious objectors[5]
2. Advocacy and community service[6][8]
- Protecting the rights of conscripts and countering violations
- Working to increase the availability of alternative civilian service
- Cooperation with international organizations[10]
- Specialized support for LGBT conscientious objectors[4]
3. Educational work
- Carrying out master classes on legal ways of exemption from army conscription[5]
- Creation and support of online information resources[6]
- Forming a community of conscientious objectors[11];
- Promoting a positive image of a conscientious objector[11]
Assessments
[edit]Positive assessments
[edit]The International Peace Bureau recognized the movement's merits in defending human rights and nominated the organization for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2023. Together with organizations from Ukraine and Belarus assisting conscientious objectors, the Movement was nominated for demonstrating "unprecedented skill and dedication in their efforts as advocates for peace, conscientious objection and human rights"[5][7].
In 2024, the Movement received the Sean McBride Peace Prize, shared with Ukrainian Rukh Pacifistov and Belarusian Nash Dom. The International Peace Bureau noted that these organizations "have not only made significant strides in advocating for the right to conscientious objection to military service, but also symbolize the enduring spirit of peace in the face of adversity"[7].
More than 60 anti-war initiatives have appealed to the European Commission and the European Parliament to grant asylum to EU conscientious objectors, positively assessing the activities of the Movement[9].
Negative assessments
[edit]In June 2023, the Russian Ministry of Justice designated the Movement as a "foreign agent", accusing the organization of disseminating inaccurate information about the decisions of the authorities, receiving foreign funding, and speaking out against Russia's "special military operation" in Ukraine. The director, Alexander Belik, was also labeled as a "foreign agent"[6][8].
In May 2022, the Savelovsky District Court of Moscow decided to block the organization's website in Russia, stating that it contains information discrediting military service in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation[12].
RAPSI (Russian Agency for Legal and Judicial Information) mentioned the Movement as an extremist organization in a publication about the recognition of the LGBT movement as extremist in 2023, linking it to Soros' Open Society and the LGBT movement in Ukraine[13].
In October 2022, the Tilda platform removed the Movement's website without explanation. In 2023, VKontakte blocked the organization's community at the request of the Prosecutor General's Office for posting "fakes" about the army[14].
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g "«Наша цель — сократить количество россиян, участвующих в войне» — директор_ка «Движения сознательных отказчиков» Саша Белик". Новая газета. Балтия (in Russian). 2025-03-16. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
- ^ a b c "Структура и Политики ДСО 3.0". docs.google.com. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
- ^ a b "Манифест Движения СО 3.0". docs.google.com. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
- ^ a b c "Перекресток: как работает Движение сознательных отказчиков от военной службы в РФ" (in Russian). 2022-12-13. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
- ^ a b c d e "Движение сознательных отказчиков выдвинули на Нобелевскую премию". Север.Реалии (in Russian). 2023-08-09. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
- ^ a b c d "Минюст признал "иноагентом" "Движение сознательных отказчиков"". Север.Реалии (in Russian). 2023-06-23. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
- ^ a b c Волчек, Дмитрий (2017-04-01). "Не служи!". Радио Свобода (in Russian). Retrieved 2024-12-10.
- ^ a b c d Красоткина, Екатерина (2024-04-16). "Чтоб не убивать". Такие дела (in Russian). Retrieved 2024-12-10.
- ^ a b "Более 60 антивоенных инициатив обратились к Европарламенту с просьбой защитить российских сознательных отказчиков, дезертиров и сдавшихся либо попавших в плен". istories.media (in Russian). Retrieved 2024-12-10.
- ^ a b c "Минюст внес в реестр иноагентов доцента МГУ Лобанова и бизнесмена Невзлина". TACC (in Russian). Retrieved 2024-12-10.
- ^ a b "Альтернатива есть — не воевать, а работать". Новости Нижнего Тагила и Свердловской области - Агентство новостей «Между строк» (in Russian). 2018-05-15. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
- ^ "Заблокирован сайт «Движения сознательных отказчиков»". roskomsvoboda.org (in Russian). Retrieved 2024-12-10.
- ^ "Стрела Париса: экстремистов ЛГБТ-движения отделили от секс-меньшинств". РАПСИ (in Russian). 2023-12-01. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
- ^ "Сайт «Движения сознательных отказчиков от военной службы» заблокировали по решению суда за «дискредитацию» российской армии". Новая газета Европа. 2013-05-03. Retrieved 2024-12-10.