war in Ukraine
Politicians demand asylum for Russian conscientious objectors
People took to the streets in Moscow against the announced partial mobilization. photo
© Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP/dpa
After the partial mobilization announced by the Kremlin, many young men are trying to break away from Russia. Should Germany now accept conscientious objectors? Greens, SPD and Union are in favor.
After the partial mobilization in Russia, politicians from the coalition and opposition campaigned for easier admission of Russian conscientious objectors and deserters to Germany.
The First Parliamentary Secretary of the Greens parliamentary group, Irene Mihalic, told the “Rheinische Post”: “Anyone who does not want to take part as a soldier in Putin’s murderous war of aggression against Ukraine, which violates international law, and therefore flees Russia, must be granted asylum in Germany .”
SPD faction deputy Dirk Wiese told the newspaper that the stricter penalties that threatened people if they were withdrawn from conscription “I already consider the current legal situation to be sufficient grounds for asylum.” Lower Saxony’s Prime Minister Stephan Weil (SPD) said that the people who were now resisting the convocation were “incredibly brave”. “I really take it for granted to support such people, to give such people refuge,” said Weil on the RTL / ntv program “Frühstart”.
The deputy chairman of the Union faction, Johann Wadephul, told the newspapers of the Funke media group that humanitarian visas must now be interpreted generously and comprehensively. “This must also apply to soldiers who openly oppose the Putin regime.”
After the Kremlin announced that 300,000 reservists had been called up, many young men tried to escape from Russia. There were protests in Russia against the measure with hundreds of arrests.
Faeser: Granting asylum is a case-by-case decision
Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser had said about a photo of conscientious objectors and deserters in the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Sunday newspaper”: “Deserters threatened by severe repression usually receive international protection in Germany. “Anyone who courageously opposes the regime of President Vladimir Putin and therefore puts himself in the greatest danger , can apply for asylum in Germany because of political persecution”. However, the granting of asylum is a case-by-case decision, which also includes a security check.
Regarding the discussion, the Ukrainian ambassador in Berlin, Andriy Melnyk, tweeted: “Wrong approach! Sorry. Young Russians who don’t want to go to war must finally overthrow Putin and his racist regime instead of running off and enjoying dolce vita in the West .”