The Minister of Justice of Germany, Marko Buschmann, has affirmed that Germany will not compel Ukrainian refugees to serve in the Armed Forces or deport them to Ukraine, as reported by Deutsche Welle.
“Forcing people to engage in military service against their will is not our approach,” Buschmann stated.
The German government official assured that if Ukrainian authorities wish to conscript men who have left the country into the military, it will have no practical consequences for Ukrainians residing in Germany.
“It is impossible for me to imagine how we can force people from other countries to serve with weapons in their hands, given that, according to our constitution, German citizens are not obliged to do this against their will,” he explained.
Germany has been at the forefront in accepting Ukrainian refugees, providing them with housing, social benefits, and assistance in integrating into German society.
The Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Rustem Umerov, previously discussed potential scenarios for conscripting Ukrainians living abroad into the Armed Forces (AFU) in interviews with German publications Welt and Bild.
He revealed ongoing discussions regarding the conscription of men aged 25 to 60 living abroad into military service next year. These individuals, residing in countries such as Germany, may receive invitations to report to AFU conscription points.
While Umerov mentioned only invitations, he made it clear, as noted by the German publication, that sanctions could be imposed if the request is not fulfilled.
Minister of Justice: Up to 20,000 Prisoners and Ex-Cons Might Be Drafted
In Germany, political forces had varied reactions to Umerov’s statement.
The deputy head of the faction of the opposition Christian Democratic Union in the Bundestag, Johann Wadephul, stated on the Welt TV channel that the Ukrainian ministry’s “persistent moral appeal” should be supported, without specifying how such support should be provided.
According to him, Ukrainians in Germany “are here because there is a war going on there, and they are simply obliged to contribute to the end of this war.”
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Defense Ministry downplayed Umerov’s statement, saying that “he was misunderstood.” In a comment to media outlet Babel, Illarion Pavlyuk, the Head of the Press and Information Department of the Ministry of Defense, explained that Bild had “shifted the focus.”
According to him, there are “no discussions on the mechanisms of conscripting men living abroad into the AFU.”
You can also highlight the text and press Ctrl + Enter
Comments (3)
1. 1951 Refugee Convention:
- Compulsion to participate in war may be considered grounds for refugee status under this convention, especially if fleeing military actions that violate fundamental rights.
2. Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions (1977):
- This protocol establishes additional guarantees for the civilian population in times of armed conflicts, including protection against compulsion to participate in military actions.
3. UN General Assembly Resolution 2444 (XXIII) (1968):
- This resolution emphasizes the principle that everyone has the right to refuse compulsion to participate in war, violating their convictions.
1. Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:
- Forcing participation in war contradicts my beliefs and freedom of conscience guaranteed by Article 18. My religious or philosophical stance opposes the use of weapons and involvement in military actions.
2. Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:
- Compelling participation in war and risking life-threatening danger violates my right to life, freedom, and personal security.
3. Article 4 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights:
- Compelling participation in war and military service, especially with the threat of deportation, constitutes a form of forced labor, violating the prohibition outlined in Article 4 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. This contradicts my fundamental rights to freedom and absence of coercion to work.
there are enough menthally ill and war hungry men going to war for ukraine