He wanted to help the victims of the barbaric attack, but in the process he ran into trouble in his hometown. Switzerland is a neutral country, so Jonah Neidhart had to choose between following the law and providing much-needed help. – If I have to choose between a moral and ethical decision and a legal decision, I will choose an ethical and moral decision – Jonah admits.
There are thousands of them, and although their motivations are different, they share a common goal: to defend Ukraine from Russian aggression. Jonah Neidhart stands out among foreigners in the Ukrainian army because his participation in this war could have huge consequences for his country.
– Russia attacked Ukraine without any provocation. This was the moment I had to act. I also have a personal connection with this country. My mother is Polish, but she also has Ukrainian ancestors, so I feel a special bond with Ukraine, said a Swiss volunteer who is fighting in Ukraine in an interview with TVN24 BiS reporter Hubert Kizek.
In March 2022, Jonah went to Ukraine and joined the International Legion after the outbreak of a large-scale attack. He participated in the main battles – in the counterattack of Kharkiv and the defense of Bakhmut. He struggled with the knowledge that he would be severely punished in his homeland. Serving in a foreign army in Switzerland can lead to up to three years in prison.
– I knew that I was violating the Swiss law on neutrality, but this war concerns the future of Europe, not only Ukraine. If I had to choose between an ethical and moral decision and a legal decision, I would choose an ethical and moral decision, Jonah explained.
Jonah Neidhart Private Archive
He surrendered to the police in the presence of the media
In June 2024, Jonah decided to return to Switzerland and discuss his decision. He surrendered to the police in the presence of the media. Why did he do this? Because, as he understands, he wanted to shake his homeland and change its two-hundred-year-old teachings.
– We have been neutral for more than 200 years and as a nation we are used to it and it is difficult for modern Swiss citizens to change it. However, I know politicians who think the same way and support my decision to fight for Ukraine, stressed Jonah.
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It was thanks to John that the Swiss parliament started working on an amnesty for citizens fighting in Ukraine. The bill is stuck in the freezer of the National Assembly. – If Switzerland grants amnesty to soldiers fighting in Ukraine, it is politically difficult. This actually means he is part of the conflict, Jonah points out.
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He took a bold step
Jonah’s case also dragged on in court, prompting him to take a bold step.
– The trial started in June of last year, and half a year later I decided to return to Ukraine. This is a repeat offense, so I can be sentenced to 4.5 years in prison. I played chess with Switzerland. They are in a difficult situation. If they condemn me, they know it will be a scandal, because I was only defending democracy and Europe, and Switzerland is part of this world, said a Swiss volunteer who is fighting in Ukraine.
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John was assigned to the third assault brigade. He will fight for freedom and the future.
– I hope that at least some changes will take place in my country. When freedom is threatened, my country must help protect it, and now it is. Russia is really destroying Ukraine. And when you study the history of Russia, Putin, the USSR or the Tsarist Empire, you will see that Moscow has always built its existence on the basis of pressure. It always conquered, always suppressed other cultures and nations, Jonah emphasized.
Facts about the world TVN24 BiS
Main photo source: private archive
