Description
This paper examines the difficult stage experienced by conscientious objectors, particularly in the context of Russia’s military mobilization, based on interviews with men from Russia. These individuals, who resist conscription on ethical grounds, occupy a precarious position within the social and political landscape. They cannot fully express or participate in society on their own terms due to the constant fear of rejection, persecution, or criminalization, yet they are also unable to secure asylum in countries offering refuge. This condition of being unable to engage meaningfully in their home society, while at the same time lacking the protection of asylum frameworks, places them in a state of socio-legal precarity. The paper explores the legal, social, and political dimensions of this precarious condition, analyzing the challenges faced by conscientious objectors within and outside of Russia. It highlights the intersection of war, state repression, individual antiwar ethics, and transnational mobility, showing how these individuals resist militarization while simultaneously confronting the absence of viable options for safety and belonging.
