On October 3th, the rally «Never Again War ⸻ Lay Down the Arms!» took place in Berlin. Among those who delivered passionate and powerful speeches were the conscientious objectors Andrii Konovalov from Ukraine and Artem Klyga from Russia, who represented our organization at the event. Below you can find the video of their speeches, followed by the full text.
VIDEO ⸻ ARTEM KLYGA AND ANDRII KONOVALOV AGAINST THE WAR, Berlin Berlin TV ↷
ARTEM KLYGA:
«My name is Artyom Klyga. I am a conscientious objector from Russia. In 2022, I had to leave my country because of the war. Today I live in Offenbach and represent the organization “Connection e.V.” First of all, congratulations ⸻ happy German Unity Day! And a big thank you for the invitation to speak on this special day in front of so many supporters of peace.But friends, let’s speak frankly. We are witnessing a dangerous development. In Russia, in Ukraine, in Belarus ⸻ the right to conscientious objection is almost completely ignored.
Every week, we receive cries for help from people in these countries. And it is becoming harder and harder to truly help them. And let’s be honest: even here in Europe, this right is under threat. Discussions about reinstating conscription, about military registration ⸻ even for women ⸻ all under the pretext of “national security”. These are the consequences of Putin’s war, which has trapped Europe in a corner: new enemies are being sought here as well. And those who already had the courage to say “no” ⸻ deserters, objectors — are in an even worse situation! Migration authorities claim there is no risk. Yet courts, the European Court of Human Rights, and the UN all say clearly: yes, there is risk in Russia! Putin is fighting with young soldiers.
Last week, the first young man born in 2007 was killed in the war. In 2022, he was 15 years old.Even the humanitarian admission programs ⸻ already ended in Germany, soon in France ⸻ excluded objectors from the start. Yesterday, I attended a conference of the German Foreign Ministry, which officially confirmed that citizens of Russia and Belarus will no longer receive extended humanitarian protection.Thus, the right to conscientious objection becomes an empty shell. Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which guarantees freedom of thought and conscience, is being openly violated.
Yes, there are small successes. In 2024, we were able to bring Russian deserters from Kazakhstan to France. Courts in Berlin and Hesse have recognized protection for objectors. But let’s be honest ⸻ is that enough? Four years after the start of the largest war in Europe, there is still not a single systematic support program for objectors. Hundreds are stuck in transit zones, in legal limbo, or in detention centers. Many are already inside the EU ⸻ and still denied asylum.If we continue like this, Europe will drift away from the human rights system we spent decades building. We must not let that happen.
Because conscientious objection is not a crime. It is an act of courage. It is a defense of human dignity. And our task ⸻ as civil society, as governments, as people who believe in freedom ⸻ is clear: we must ensure that this right is not buried under militarism and fear. Thank you!»
ANDRII KONOVALOV:
«As a child in Ukraine, many things seemed self-evident to me: that every person deserves respect and equal rights. That the weakest must be protected ⸻ not the other way around.
But these truths have been gradually eroded. First in Ukraine, then ⸻ with the war ⸻ also in Europe. I watched as politicians abused basic values to ignore or even justify coercion, torture ⸻ whose use during mobilization has already been documented in UN reports ⸻ and the resulting deaths.
Politicians say: “We are defending freedom with this war”. But what does freedom have to do with forbidding people to leave the war zone and forcing them into slaughter?
They say: “By prolonging this war, we are protecting the future”. But what could be more dangerous for the future than dehumanizing entire peoples while playing with the risks of nuclear war?
They say: “We are defending democracy with this war”. But what is a greater betrayal of democracy than abolishing free elections and disregarding the right to refuse to kill?
Yes, democracies are under threat today ⸻ worldwide. But this danger does not come from any one nation or religion. The real threat arises from extreme social inequality, from divisive politics, and from the selective application of fundamental rights.
The only answer is to reject division ⸻ not to brand entire nations as enemies. Instead, dialogue, compromise, and mutual listening must become the true solutions against the rise of extremism ⸻ in Russia, in Israel, but also in the United States, in Ukraine, and here in Europe.
When we talk about those who fled the Ukrainian army: according to official data, in the last six months there were more than 125 000.
Standing with Ukraine means standing with its people ⸻ not with the elite who keep their own families safe while forcing others to sacrifice their lives.
Freedom cannot be defended through coercion. And the very first step European governments could take would be to link the billions flowing into weapons to specific measures by the Ukrainian authorities ⸻ measures aimed at reducing the scale of arbitrariness and torture inflicted on their own citizens in the name of mobilization. But of course, that’s not what we see ⸻ and not what we are meant to see.
Because these arms deliveries and the war itself have nothing to do with freedom, nothing to do with democracy, nothing to do with the interests of the Ukrainian people ⸻ and nothing to do with the interests of the Ukrainian state. They serve only one purpose: the interests of a neoconservative transatlantic clique, my friends.
And no European can be sure of their rights as long as human rights do not apply to everyone. And no one can feel safe as long as security is not guaranteed for all.»