After the Ukrainians, it is the Russians who are fleeing the war. Since Vladimir Putin’s decision to decree the partial mobilization of 300,000 reservists to join the front, thousands of Russian citizens are choosing to leave their country.
But while these deserters are massing at the borders of Russia, the Member States of the European Union are torn apart over the thorny question of their reception. Should we agree to receive them on European soil? If so, is it grant them refugee status or a humanitarian visa?
A crisis meeting bringing together the ambassadors of EU countries is organized on Monday, September 26 in Brussels to try to find common ground. But the task promises to be difficult.
Northern countries are against
For the time being, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania refuse to welcome Russian nationals on their territory. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky announced on Thursday that he would not grant humanitarian visas to Russians who fled the country. The three Baltic countries have for their part decided to close their borders.
“Many Russians fleeing Russia because of the mobilization agreed to kill Ukrainians, they did not protest at the time. It is not fair to consider them conscientious objectors”decided Edgars Rinkevics, the Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs, on Twitter. “There are significant security risks in admitting them and there are many other countries outside the EU where they can go.”
Many of Russians who now flee Russia because of mobilization were fine with killing Ukrainians, they did not protest then, it is not right to consider them as conscious objectors. There are considerable security risks admitting them and plenty of countries outside EU to go
— Edgars Rinkevics (@edgarsrinkevics) September 22, 2022
Neighboring Finland, which shares 1,340 km of borders with Russia, also wants to reduce “significantly” the influx of Russian citizens on its territory. It decided to close its borders on Friday, two days after Vladimir Putin’s announcement, when the number of Russians traveling to Finnish soil had doubled in a week. Finland fears in particular that the opening of the border will allow Vladimir Putin’s agents to enter the European Union directly.
Germany and France are for
In Germany, green and liberal parliamentarians, who participate in the ruling coalition, are actively campaigning for the reception of Russian citizens on national territory. The government of Social Democratic Chancellor Olaf Scholz has declared itself in favor of this idea. “Whoever courageously opposes Putin and thus puts himself in great danger can apply for political asylum in Germany”assured the Minister of the Interior, Nancy Faeser, while specifying that the reception will be carried out on a case-by-case basis so as not to undermine, at the same time, the system of sanctions decided by the EU against the Kremlin.
Putins Menschenverachtung macht vor den eigenen Soldaten nicht halt, die er in diesen mörderischen Krieg gegen die ukrainische Zivilbevölkerung schickt. Von schweren Repressionen bedrohte #Deserteur erhalten im Regelfall daher internationalen Schutz in Deutschland.
—Nancy Faeser (@NancyFaeser) September 22, 2022
France seems rather to line up behind the German position, even if no firm announcement has been made. On Friday, since the UN General Assembly, Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna felt that it was necessary “to respond to the desire of a large part of the Russian population to express their opinions and sometimes to leave Russia to come to the rest of the continent”. In a letter sent to Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, environmental senators plead for the reception in France of“opponents” and of “deserters” Russians.
The EU executive is open to it
On the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, also spoke. In an interview at Politicothe former head of the Belgian government insists that the EU should show “of openness to those who do not want to be exploited by the Kremlin”. Before adding: “If people in Russia are in danger because of their political opinions, because they don’t follow this crazy decision by the Kremlin to start this war in Ukraine, we must take this into account.”
The boss of the European Council also assured that he was open to consultation with his colleagues from the EU in order to find a solution for the reception of Russian dissidents in Europe. “I agree with the idea that we should very quickly cooperate and coordinate”he launched, while working groups to try to find a common position were to be launched by the European Commission on Saturday September 24, according to The world.
Towards a humanitarian status?
The meeting of ambassadors organized on Monday will be decisive. In the event of an agreement on the reception of Russian deserters, the European Union could reconsider its decision, at the beginning of September, to suspend a visa facilitation agreement with Russia. Several countries, including Finland, were in fact opposed to Russian citizens visiting and spending their holidays in Europe as long as Russia did not put an end to the war in Ukraine. They then won their case.
With the influx of thousands of Russian citizens at European borders, the situation is completely changing and the EU will have to act quickly. Among the main options on the table, the Twenty-Seven could for example choose to grant humanitarian status to certain Russian citizens, rather than that of political refugee. However, explain Politicothe EU should not activate the special directive on temporary protection that was put in place in March for Ukrainians fleeing the war, giving them the right to live and work in the EU for a specified period.