Kyiv wants to recruit abroad
Minister: Estonia would extradite Ukrainians liable for military service
December 23, 2023, 5:59 p.m
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Among the Ukrainian refugees leaving their country because of the Russian attack, there are also men of fighting age. According to a planned law, they should also be able to be confiscated. While Germany is reassuring Ukrainians here, Estonia is taking a different approach.
In light of reports that Kiev may be planning to mobilize Ukrainians living abroad, the Estonian Interior Ministry has agreed to extradite Ukrainians who have fled to Estonia and are subject to military service should Kiev request it. This was announced by Lauri Läänemets, the Interior Minister of the Baltic country, according to the public broadcaster ERR. “If Ukraine needs it, Estonia can find these people and extradite them to Ukraine. In general, we know where these people are and what they are doing. Most of them go to work and have a residence in Estonia,” Läänemets said . Federal Justice Minister Marco Buschmann had previously stated that Germany would not force Ukrainians living in this country “to do military service or conscription.”
According to the ERR report, Ukrainian citizens permanently residing abroad would not be affected by the mobilization. Since February 24, 2022, Ukrainian citizens between the ages of 18 and 60 have generally not been allowed to leave the country.
According to the Interior Minister, around 7,500 Ukrainian men of fighting age have applied for temporary protection in Estonia since the beginning of the Russian war of aggression. However, many of them are therefore excluded from mobilization, for example caring relatives, single parents, fathers of at least three children or children with disabilities.
Ministry of Defense: No compulsion
A few days ago, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umjerov’s statements about the possible mobilization of Ukrainians living abroad caused a stir. Ukrainians of military age in Germany and other countries should be asked to report to the armed forces’ recruiting centers, Umjerov announced in an interview with “Bild”, Welt TV and “Politico”. The minister spoke of an invitation. However, he made it clear that there would be sanctions if someone did not follow the request. “We are still discussing what will happen if they don’t come voluntarily,” he said.
However, a Defense Ministry spokesman later said there were no plans to recall men under pressure from abroad and call them up. Although he spoke of the “constitutional duty of all citizens” to defend the country, he also made it clear: “If it is about a sanctions mechanism or legal pressure on those who are outside Ukraine, then that is not on the agenda.”
The bill is already in the works
However, on Friday, a representative of the Ukrainian parliament’s National Security, Defense and Intelligence Committee said it was working on a draft law on the mobilization of men abroad. According to Vadym Ivchenko, it is a complex bill that “is being developed jointly by deputies, the Ministry of Defense and the entire General Staff team.” Accordingly, the bill should be put to the vote in January.
“Ukrainians staying abroad must undergo the same identification procedures as Ukrainians in Ukraine,” Ivchenko said. “If they are on the list of people to be mobilized, of course they will receive a summons. This is a normal process. And then it is their decision whether to go back or stay there, and then it is a violation of Ukrainian law.” , explained the MP.