to escape partial mobilization in Ukraine, Russians take refuge in Turkey

While Vladimir Putin decreed, Wednesday, September 21, the partial mobilization to face the counter-offensive of the Ukrainian army, Russians are fleeing the country so as not to be sent to the front. Some 300,000 men will be requisitioned to wage war in Ukraine. Turkey is, with Armenia, one of the few countries where Russians can still take refuge. Air links still exist with Moscow and no visa is required.

>> War in Ukraine: follow our live the day after the partial mobilization decreed by Vladimir Putin

Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, nearly 400,000 Russians have passed through Turkey – whether they are political refugees, activists, artists or intellectuals. Many have now moved further afield to Europe, to the United States or returned to Russia. With the partial mobilization, the Russian community in Istanbul expects new arrivals.

In a shopping alley in the historic district of Fatih, on the Asian side, a small discreet building welcomes Russians fleeing the war free of charge. “It’s a nightmare come true, and there’s nothing you can do about it, it’s like the return of the Soviet Union”, laments Vitaly. This 24-year-old Russian fled his country after Vladimir Putin’s announcements. This partial mobilization, he thinks it is “an admission of failure”.

Elmar, he arrived Tuesday evening, without suspecting what the Kremlin was preparing. “My friends and comrades are writing to me now that I managed to escape just in timehe explains. But, on the other hand, I worry, I worry about them, about what’s going to happen to them.”

The planes are stormed, notes Eva Rapaport. Since the spring, this Russian anthropologist has been guiding her fellow citizens in exile. ”It reminds me of what happened in early March, people were afraid of martial law and forced mobilizationshe points out. They were already paying a fortune to flee.”

“Again, there are no more tickets [d’avion]. And they are three to five times more expensive than usual. But everyone who can tries to escape.”

Eva Rapaport, Russian anthropologist

at franceinfo

Now, the big question that plagues the Russian community in Istanbul is how long the borders will remain open.