Russians fleeing Putin’s draft

RUSSIA’S two most senior lawmakers, Valentina Matviyenko, the chairperson of Russia’s upper house, the Federation Council, and Vyacheslav Volodin, speaker of the State Duma, addressed complaints about Russia’s military mobilisation yesterday, ordering regional officials to get a handle on the situation and swiftly solve the “excesses” that have stoked public anger.

President Vladimir Putin’s move to order Russia’s first military mobilisation since World War II on Wednesdaytriggered protests across the country and caused throngs of military-age men to flee, with queues at borders and flights sold out. He called up thousands to fight in Ukraine.

The EU is facing a tough balancing act over how to deal with Russians fleeing military recruitment, as some countries look to block entry and others offer possible refuge. Flights to countries granting visa-free entry to Russians, mainly neighbouring former Soviet republics, were nearly entirely booked up, despite rocketing prices.

Finland, the only member to keep its land border open with Moscow, reported that arrivals from Russia had doubled to 6470 the day after Putin’s announcement, while Germany said on Thursday that it may take in Russians fleeing conscription.

“Deserters threatened with serious repression can as a rule obtain international protection in Germany,” Interior Minister Nancy Faeser told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. “Anyone who courageously opposes Putin’s regime, and thereby falls into great danger, can file for asylum on grounds of political persecution.” |