The applicant in Rutkauskas v Lithuania [2025] ECHR Application no. 15816/20 was a Jehovah’s Witness and religious minister who was called up for military service under the Law on Conscription. He refused on grounds of religious belief and asked to perform civilian service instead. His request was refused, and the military authorities also decided not to exempt him from initial mandatory military service [1]. Appeals to the domestic courts were unsuccessful.
