Forced Displacement, Religious Freedom and the Russia-Ukraine Conflict

Abstract

The chapter explores religiously motivated forced displacement from the territories controlled by the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics (DPR/LPR). The chapter argues that there are two forms of religiously motivated forced displacement: the first form is deportation and forced displacement as a result of violence and religious discrimination and religiously motivated hatred, inspired or supported by public authorities of DPR/LPR; the second form is more ‘voluntary’, in the sense that religious communities’ members opt to migrate in order to preserve their right to practice their religion freely. While deportation and forced displacement relate to more serious violations of religious freedom, the second, more ‘voluntary’ form of forced displacement is far more widespread. This approach to the study of religiously motivated forced displacement proves that violations of religious freedom by DPR/LPR go beyond a few, even quite brutal isolated incidents; they have been systematic and targeted significant numbers of people belonging to various religious minorities. It should also guide the Ukrainian government efforts in monitoring, identifying and prosecuting violations of this fundamental right in the Donbas.