Russians flee to US to avoid conscription

Record numbers are using a previously little-known route via Mexico in an attempt to avoid Putin’s war

THOUSANDS of Russians are trying to reach the United States to claim political asylum and avoid being drafted to the army.

Immigration lawyers in America have been inundated with inquiries from Russian men and their families asking if the US will grant them political protection amid fears of conscription, following President Putin’s invasion.

In recent months, record numbers of Russian citizens have been apprehended on the US border with Mexico, a relatively easy path to the US.

The Sunday Telegraph has spoken to bank managers, engineers and fashion designers who have left their homes after being targeted by police in Russia.

But now, immigration lawyers say the numbers will “skyrocket” amid fears that military-age men will be called up to fight in the war - which has already called up conscripts and reservists aged between 18 and 60.

In 2020, 467 Russians were detained at America’s southern border. Last year that number soared to 9,376 – a result of the Russian crackdown on dissent following widespread protests spearheaded by Alexei Navalny, the jailed opposition leader, experts say.

The numbers are still increasing. Last month, 1,028 Russians and 248 Ukrainians made their way across the border, mostly crossing from Tijuana in Mexico to San Diego in California. “We have never been so busy,” said Ekaterina Mouratova, a Russian-American immigration lawyer based in Miami.

“But the number is going to skyrocket. I have got tons of emails in the last few days. They are mostly men between 20 and 55, who are asking if they can get protection from the US if Russia does a mandatory military draft. These people do not want to go to war.”

Ms Mouratova’s company, the Immigration Centre of Ekaterina Mouratova, is already dealing with “dozens of people” a week who have flown from Russia, Ukraine and Belarus to Cancun in Mexico, then travelled to Tijuana and presented themselves to US border agents.

One of her clients, Yevgeniy, a bank manager from Moscow, made the journey in September.

“When people saw the luxurious lifestyle politicians had and that they weren’t doing anything for the people, lots of us took to the streets,” he said, from Florida. “But the protests became violent. I was beaten up and thrown in jail to teach me a lesson.”

Yevgeniy believes he became a target after filing an official complaint about his mistreatment. “People started threatening my mother and I saw that police were arresting people on false charges saying they were extremists.

“One day they came to my apartment to seize my computer and electronics. I told them there was nothing on there, but they said they would for sure find extremist material. This was not an empty threat so started to research where I could go.”

At that point, he found a video by Dmitry Politov. The Muscovite, who also marched with Navalny supporters feared for his freedom and feared he could still be targeted in Europe.

Mr Politov travelled to Cancun because in Mexico, Russians need only an e-visa to enter, rather than having to visit a consulate. He then cancelled his return flight and headed for Tijuana, where he approached US border officials and claimed political asylum.

Yevgeniy’s mind was made up and within 48 hours he and his wife were on a flight to Cancun. “Not many people knew about this route at the time. But now, the video has tens of thousands of views. Lots of people are asking if they can do it too,” he said.

Yevgeniy then flew to Tijuana, where he also claimed asylum.

Ukrainians have been fleeing for months. Vasyl, an engineer from Donetsk, left with his fashion designer wife and four children before Christmas. They also used the Mexican route, and thousands more are expected to follow.

“It’s sad,” said Ms Mouratova. “I have hundreds of clients with the same stories. They are not revolutionaries, they are simple people who are facing very harsh consequences. They are not economic migrants either. They have left everything behind.”

Legal routes to the US are difficult for most Russians. The US embassy in Moscow is no longer offering tourist visas to Russians.

“I think about my mother a lot,” said Yevgeniy. I know the police visited her to ask about me. I just hope they do not do anything to her . She is an old lady. She was sad I left, but she understands. I do not know when or if I will see her again.”