(Ottawa) Canadians in Russia who hold dual citizenship should leave the country because they face possible conscription.
Posted at 1:20 p.m.
Since dual citizenship is not legally recognized in Russia, a Canadian-Russian could be forced to comply “with certain legal obligations, including military service”, notes the Canadian government on its travel advisory website.
“You risk being detained, imprisoned or facing heavy fines if you try to avoid military service”, continues on the same website, where it is already advised to “avoid all travel in Russia, the highest warning level.
Citing the “impacts of the armed conflict with Ukraine, including limited availability of air links and restrictions on financial transactions,” Ottawa recommends Canadians who are in Russia to “leave now while business options are still available.” .
Russians have been fleeing the country en masse since President Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilization of 300,000 reservists. According to New York Timesfaced with the prospect of finding themselves on the battlefield, around 200,000 Russians preferred exile, particularly in Georgia and Kazakhstan.
The Kremlin announced Thursday its intention to annex the four territories where citizens have endorsed the Russian regime on Friday. The legitimacy of the consultations, which were held in a repressive context, is contested by the West.
In Ottawa, the House of Commons passed a motion to signal that “never” would the results of these referendums be recognized. Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland argued that the word “referendum” should not be used to refer to the vote, because it is more of a “sham”.