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The United States is offering asylum to any Russian citizen who decides to flee Vladimir Putin’s military draft to avoid going to war in Ukraine.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the United States would welcome those who choose not to go to Putin’s war.
“We welcome any folks who are seeking asylum”
“I know the White House has drawn a distinction between the Russian government and the people of Russia. Does the president have a message for some of these men who are desperately trying to flee the country?” a reporter asked.
“There are people out there in Russia who do not want to fight Putin’s war or die for it,” Jean-Pierre said.
“We believe that, regardless of nationality, they may apply for asylum in the United States and have their claim adjudicated on a case-by-case basis,” he added. “We welcome any folks who are seeking asylum, and they should do that,” he said.
Last week Putin decreed a partial mobilization to send 300,000 reservists to the war in Ukraine, a situation that triggered thousands of Russians deciding to leave the country and others preferring to go to jail rather than be part of the invasion.
According to international press reports, more than 260,000 men have left Russia since Putin’s decree; news emerged this week that the Kremlin plans to close borders for everyone of conscription age.
Mongolia, Georgia and Kazakhstan have been the hardest hit by the wave of Russian military-age men leaving the country. Georgian officials stated that daily border crossings have nearly doubled in less than a week.
One man, Aleksey, told Reuters that he would leave his wife and children behind as recruitment continues.
“We are not afraid, but why do we have to fight in Ukraine, why?” he told Reuters. “If other countries would attack Russia, we would fight for our country. But why are we going to Ukraine? for what?”
Sabrina Martín Rondon is a Venezuelan journalist. Her source is politics and economics. She is a specialist in corporate communications and is committed to the task of dismantling the supposed benefits of socialism // Sabrina Martín Rondon es periodista venezolana. Su fuente es la política y economía. Es especialista en comunicaciones corporativas y se ha comprometido con la tarea de desmontar las supuestas bondades del socialismo