Case of Adyan and others v. Armenia (Application no. 75604/11)

Four Jehovah’s Witnesses, Adyan and others were imprisoned for refusing alternative civilian service, which they did not believe was of a genuinely civilian nature since it was supervised by the military authorities. They were called up in May and June 2011, imprisoned in 2011 and 2012, and all released in the general amnesty that took place in October 2013.

The applicants alleged that their convictions had violated the guarantees of Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights (which provides a right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion). The Court unanimously upheld this.