Avanesyan v. Armenia (application no. 12999/15)

The applicant, Artur Avanesyan, is an Armenian national who was born in 1995 and lives in Masis
(Armenia).
The case concerns the applicant’s refusal to perform military service because, as a Jehovah’s
Witness, his conscience did not allow him to serve in the army. He was convicted of draft evasion
and sentenced to two years and six months’ imprisonment.
Relying on Article 9 (freedom of thought, conscience and religion) of the European Convention on
Human Rights, he complains about his arrest and subsequent detention, prosecution and conviction
for conscientious objection, despite having requested to do alternative civilian service.
Violation of Article 9
Just satisfaction:
non-pecuniary damage: 9,000 euros (EUR)
costs and expenses: EUR 1,500
https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng#{%22languageisocode%22:[%22ENG%22],%22respondent%22:[%22ARM%22],%22documentcollectionid2%22:[%22GRANDCHAMBER%22,%22CHAMBER%22],%22itemid%22:[%22001-211259%22]}