The Right to Freedom of Religion: Problems of Implementation During the War in Ukraine.

This article analyzes the possibilities for exercising the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion in Ukraine during martial law. It emphasizes that although Ukraine is a secular state with constitutionally enshrined separation of church and state, this does not negate its obligations to ensure this right. On the contrary, the secular nature of the state requires a set of legal and organizational measures to guarantee everyone's right to freedom of belief. Based on a study of the legal doctrine and practice of the European Court of Human Rights, the article emphasizes the role of the state in legislatively ensuring this right, which includes guaranteeing ideological diversity while maintaining the state's neutrality with regard to religion and equality of confessions. The article highlights the dualistic nature of the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion provided for by Ukrainian national legislation. The internal aspect (forum internum), which covers the right to have, accept, or change religion, is interpreted as an absolute right that is not subject to restriction and is realized at the level of an individual's internal beliefs and feelings. The external aspect (forum externum), which includes the right to individual and collective religious worship, although protected by the state, may be subject to reasonable legislative restrictions. In summary, it is concluded that ensuring the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, which complies with both national and international standards, is a priority for the state even in conditions of martial law. In view of this, attention is drawn to the need to develop and adopt at the state level legislation regulating the procedure for referral to alternative (non-military) service during mobilization. This requires appropriate amendments to the current legislation of Ukraine, integrating international experience and the practice of the ECHR, in order to prevent the forced imposition of beliefs and violation of the principle of freedom of conscience. Keywords: freedom of conscience, freedom of religion, human rights, state obligations, religious pluralism, tolerance, European Court of Human Rights, Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, military service, alternative (non-military) service, security.