Editing Conscientious objector (section)

===Russia===
{{Main|Conscription in Russia}}

The [[Russian Empire]] allowed [[Russian Mennonite]]s to run and maintain [[Forestry service (Russia)|forestry service]] units in South Russia in lieu of their military obligation. The program was under church control from 1881 through 1918, reaching a peak of seven thousand conscientious objectors during World War I. An additional five thousand Mennonites formed complete hospital units and transported wounded from the battlefield to [[Moscow]] and [[Ekaterinoslav]] hospitals.<ref>Smith, p. 311.</ref>

After the [[Russian Revolution of 1917]], [[Leon Trotsky]] issued a decree allowing alternative service for religious objectors whose sincerity was determined upon examination.<ref>The decree was issued in October 1918. Smith, p. 329.</ref> [[Vladimir Chertkov]], a follower of [[Leo Tolstoy]], chaired the ''United Council of Religious Fellowships and Groups'', which successfully freed 8000 conscientious objectors from military service during the [[Russian Civil War]]. The law was not applied uniformly and hundreds of objectors were imprisoned and over 200 were executed.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}The United Council was forced to cease activity in December 1920, but alternative service was available under the [[New Economic Policy]] until it was abolished in 1936.<ref>{{Cite web| last1=Braun|first1=Abraham |first2=Th.|last2=Block |first3=Lawrence|last3=Klippenstein| year = 1989| title = Forsteidienst, Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online| access-date = 2006-11-07| url =http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/F6717ME.html}}</ref> Unlike the earlier forestry and hospital service, later conscientious objectors were classified "enemies of the people" and their alternative service was performed in remote areas in a [[gulag]]-like environment in order to break their resistance and encourage enlistment.<ref>Smith, p. 330.</ref>

In the present day,{{when|date=July 2015}} Russian draft legislation allows people to choose an alternative civilian service for religious or ideological reasons. Most objectors are employed in healthcare, construction, forestry and post industries, serving 18 to 21 months.