The Kremlin sends defectors to prison while thousands of Russians flee the country – How will the EU react

The developments in the last few days in Russia after his decision have been rapid Vladimir Putin to declare “partial” conscription in the country.

And while the recruitment of the Russian reservists has already begun, the Russian president today signed an amendment to the law that provides 10 years imprisonment for military personnel who desert or refuse to fight during periods of conscription.

At the same time, he gave incentives to foreigners to join the army, as the Kremlin announced the granting of Russian citizenship is facilitated for those who will commit to serve for at least one year.

The anti-conscription demonstrations have spread to many Russian cities with arrests numbering in the hundreds.

So at a time when Moscow is trying in every way to recruit more men to fight in Ukraine, the country’s border with Georgia is inseparable.

Specifically, Russian authorities recognized today a “heavy” vehicle traffic moving with the destination of Agriculturewith around 2,300 vehicles counted at a single border post,.

“There is a large concentration of private vehicles, about 2,300 in totalwho have arrived in the Republic of North Ossetia and are queuing to pass the Verkhni Lars checkpoint,” the interior ministry of the Russian republic bordering Georgia said.

Because of this influx, “customs clearance is becoming difficult,” added the ministry, which urged Russians not to seek to leave the country.

chaotic scene at the Georgia-Russia border pic.twitter.com/ICbsKQ28cw

— ian bremmer (@ianbremmer) September 23, 2022

The ministry did not say by what percentage the number of vehicles at the border is higher than usual, but announced the deployment of additional police officers to “ensure road safety”.

The conscription announcement led many Russians to they are looking for plane tickets to leave the country, with many fearing that they will be called to fight at the front.

While Russians fear a possible border closure soon, there is also heavy traffic at land crossing points.

Except for Georgia, the border with the Kazakhstan and Mongolia they have also seen an influx since the conscription announcement, with some reports of sometimes long hours waiting to cross the border.

What position will the EU take?

Since the “great exodus” of the Russians continues at such a pace, the EU is called upon to take a decision on the stance it will take.

It has been called for next Monday extraordinary meeting of ambassadors of the 27 for countries to coordinate their steps.

As of this stage, the 27 are far from having a common line on dealing with the Russians.

However, a message in favor of the Russians who are leaving the country was sent today by Charles Michel.

EE must show that it is open “to those who do not want to be instrumentalized by the Kremlin” emphasized the President of the European Council.

“In principle, I believe that the European Union [πρέπει] to accommodate those at risk because of their political beliefs. If people in Russia are at risk because of their political beliefs, because they don’t follow this crazy decision by the Kremlin to start this war in Ukraine, we have to take that into account,” Mr. Michel said, adding that he agreed “with the idea that we should work together and coordinate very quickly because this is a new event – this partial mobilization.”

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