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Russian men fleeing from mobilization turned away in S. Korea

By Choi Mun-young | 기사입력 2022/10/24 [16:23]

Russian men fleeing from mobilization turned away in S. Korea

By Choi Mun-young | 입력 : 2022/10/24 [16:23]



Russian exodus has grown amid fear of being caught up in the military shortly after Putin’s mobilization declaration on September 21st. The European Union’s border service has confirmed a 30 percent increase in Russians who have entered territories of neighboring countries over the past week. Likewise, 23 Russians took a 5-day-long journey circumventing North Korean territorial waters and sailed south on 5 yachts over the past 3 weeks.

 

Russia’s first official mobilization since World War II was followed by a vague decree exempting certain groups such as journalists, IT workers, and students. The announcement fueled uncertainties in military recruitment and fear among conscription-age men. Many have headed for the borders, with some even having crossed the Bering Strait or East Sea to dodge the draft. While Putin crossed the point of no return with the latest illegitimate annexation of Ukraine territories, more than 20 draft-eligible Russians docked in South Korean ports applying for entry have been sent back. 

 

According to the office of the Democratic Party of Korea Rep. Ahn Ho-young, 5 yachts carrying Russian people were spotted in South Korean waters over the first few days of October. 22 of 23 Russian passengers were draft-age young men, and only two had been granted entry due to their previous immigration records. “They were denied entry after they were screened for immigration as per the usual protocols,” Ahn said. They have been found to have not met the requirements, such as the K-ETA Korea electronic travel authorization, yet it is not confirmed if they claimed refugee status.

 

Since the official mobilization, young men have flooded out of Russia, fearful they would be conscripted into the army, and European Union countries bordering Russia have tightened their rules on who is allowed into their borders. South Korea has played down its involvement in this war but avoiding military service can not constitute refugee status to this country that already accepted Ukraine refugees of Korean heritage. Despite growing insurgencies denouncing mobilization along with the severe repercussions for those who refused to be summoned, it is predicted Russia will soon close its borders to those who attempt to flee.

 
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