More than 700 demonstrators arrested, increased penalties for surrender or refusal to fight, an influx of vehicles seeking to cross from Russia to Georgia… The partial mobilization decreed this week by Vladimir Putin in order to recruiting more men to go to the front in Ukraine creates unrest in the country. Franceinfo looks back on the highlights of Saturday September 24 on the war front.
Vladimir Poutine increased penalties for surrender or refusal to fight
Vladimir Putin signed amendments providing for up to 10 years in prison for servicemen who surrender or refuse to fight during mobilization, as is currently the case. These amendments to the Penal Code, which were voted on by Parliament this week, have been published on the government’s legal portal and have therefore entered into force.
The Russian president also signed a law which facilitates access to Russian nationality for foreigners enlisting in the army.
More 700 demonstrators against the mobilization arrested
Russian authorities arrested more than 700 people during demonstrations against the mobilization of reservists? reports the NGO OVD-Info. According to this organization specializing in counting arrests, at least “707 people have already been arrested in 32 cities” across Russia, almost half of them in Moscow.
On Wednesday, the day the mobilization was announced, nearly 1,400 protesters were arrested across Russia. Some of them claimed that the authorities gave them a mobilization order at the police station. The Kremlin defended this practice, assuring that it was not “illegal”.
A “significant” influx of vehicles seeking to cross from Russia to Georgia
Thousands of Russian citizens continue to crowd the roads of exile to escape mobilization. Several queues of cars have formed at the borders of neighboring countries. Saturday, thehe Russian authorities have acknowledged an influx “important” cars looking to get to Georgia.
“There is a large accumulation of private vehicles, about 2,300 in total, which have arrived in the Republic of North Ossetia and are lining up to pass the Verkhni Lars checkpoint“, said the Ministry of the Interior of this Russian republic bordering Georgia.
The Kremlin replaces its general in charge of logistics
At dawn of its vast mobilization campaign, Russia announced the replacement of its highest ranking officer in charge of logistics, Dmitry Bulgakov. While the offensive in Ukraine showed difficulties in terms of organization, he was replaced by Colonel General Mikhail Mizintsev, who until then had been in charge of the National Defense Control Center.
Aged 60, Mikhail Mizintsev has held many positions of responsibility within the general staff during his long military career. He is targeted by Western sanctions for his role in the siege of Mariupol, a port city in southeastern Ukraine conquered in May by Russian forces at the cost of significant destruction.
China calls on Russia, Ukraine not to let conflict ‘spill over’
From the podium of the UN General Assembly in New York, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called on Ukraine and Russia not to let the war “overflow”. “The priority is to facilitate peace negotiations”he insisted, calling for a “peaceful resolution of the Ukrainian crisis” through discussions “fair and pragmatic”.
China is officially neutral but sometimes accused by Westerners of being too conciliatory with Russia, although US officials expressed measured hopes after Beijing’s statements this week at the UN.