BERLIN — CONCERT FOR THE UNKNOWN DESERTERS «MUSIC INSTEAD OF WAR»

Report from May 17, 2025

To mark this year’s International Conscientious Objection Day, peace and human rights organizations have organized a concert in Berlin: For the unknown deserters.

200 chairs were filled with the names of people who are persecuted because of their conscientious objection and were unable to attend the concert. They represent hundreds of thousands of people who refuse to serve in various wars, evade service and desert. The concert was accompanied by speeches from national and international speakers from Russia, Ukraine, Israel and Angola.

CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION IS A HUMAN RIGHT! THIS INCLUDES THE RIGHT TO ASYLUM!

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WE MADE A FILM!

Contribution by ZDF/frontal: Russian Fighters/Deserters

Artyom Klyga

For prime time on German television channel ZDF. In German. With my participation.

At the beginning of the year, thanks to a lawyer friend of mine, I happened to meet Julia Wischnewska in Berlin. I told her about my work and my long-held desire to make a short film about Russian deserters for a wide audience. Not for a Russian audience (we already had that, and there wouldn’t be much new to say there), but for a German one. I saw it as another opportunity to raise awareness of the issue among both the German public and politicians.

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«Say to all these wars: Sir! No sir!»

Emanuel Matondo, Angolan conscientious objector

Today we gather here at the Brandenburg Gate to mark this year’s International Conscientious Objectors’ Day, which we celebrate every May 15. For it was from this historic place in Germany, Berlin, that the slogan «Never again war! Never again fascism!» emerged after the catastrophe of 1933—1945. In other words: Never again racist rule!

Today, 80 years later, we stand here as citizens of Germany and of almost every nation in the world who raise their voices in various ways against war and consistently refuse to serve in the armed forces. In doing so, we are resisting all those who would have our societies believe once again that war is a normal state of affairs or that war can only be ended by war. No, war is the most abnormal state there is on this earth, after natural disasters.

I come from a country that suffered greatly from decades of war, left bleeding and destroyed. That is why I know what I am talking about. And I understand the real message when someone stands in front of me with a weapon in their hand and still talks about peace. I learned a lesson from the history of my homeland and refused: Please do not trust anyone who talks about peace with a weapon in their hand!

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