Russia has a manpower problem, and doing such actions systematically (giving asylum to Russians fleeing conscription and mobilization) would make Russia’s manpower problem even worse. And that would be good for Ukraine.
FramlingHurr on
We already have plenty of ISIS fighters and Hamaz supporters. What is a few more Russian friends.
kridenow on
France does not automatically grant asylum to russian soldiers. They have to prove they were mobilized to fight against Ukraine, are potentially facing personal persecution, and fled.
Some russians may not have been soldiers *at all*. In July 2023, [France Info reported](https://www.francetvinfo.fr/replay-radio/un-monde-d-avance/guerre-en-ukraine-les-deserteurs-russes-peuvent-obtenir-l-asile-en-france_5917382.html) (in french) the case of a russian man making claim of having fled the russian army. But it was discovered the same man had been declared unfit for military service in 2013 and had left Russia in 2019 due to a familial conflict. The office in charge of asylum requests stated it was unlikely the man would be mobilized and sent to combat. His request was denied.
[The OFPRA website](https://www.ofpra.gouv.fr/) (in charge of asylum requests) doesn’t list any special case (I searched) about russian soldiers who would seek asylum.
3 Comments
Russia has a manpower problem, and doing such actions systematically (giving asylum to Russians fleeing conscription and mobilization) would make Russia’s manpower problem even worse. And that would be good for Ukraine.
We already have plenty of ISIS fighters and Hamaz supporters. What is a few more Russian friends.
France does not automatically grant asylum to russian soldiers. They have to prove they were mobilized to fight against Ukraine, are potentially facing personal persecution, and fled.
Some russians may not have been soldiers *at all*. In July 2023, [France Info reported](https://www.francetvinfo.fr/replay-radio/un-monde-d-avance/guerre-en-ukraine-les-deserteurs-russes-peuvent-obtenir-l-asile-en-france_5917382.html) (in french) the case of a russian man making claim of having fled the russian army. But it was discovered the same man had been declared unfit for military service in 2013 and had left Russia in 2019 due to a familial conflict. The office in charge of asylum requests stated it was unlikely the man would be mobilized and sent to combat. His request was denied.
*France has given asylum to 68 russian soldiers since 2023*, [as reported by Radio France](https://www.radiofrance.fr/franceinter/podcasts/le-zoom-de-la-redaction/le-zoom-de-la-redaction-du-jeudi-04-avril-2024-5836510) (in french). A lawyer representing those russian men complained the french authorities are nitpicky in order to reject the requests.
[Le Figaro newspaper reported](https://www.lefigaro.fr/international/guerre-en-ukraine-la-france-a-accorde-l-asile-a-19-deserteurs-de-l-armee-russe-en-2024-20240322) (in french) the asylum seekers must prove they are risking personal persecution if they stayed in Russia.
[The OFPRA website](https://www.ofpra.gouv.fr/) (in charge of asylum requests) doesn’t list any special case (I searched) about russian soldiers who would seek asylum.