The EU has issued temporary visas to a group of Russian defectors who allegedly fled the country to avoid fighting in Ukraine, marking the first significant case of defectors being accepted into an EU country.
This was reported by The Guardian, who interviewed the Russian soldiers.
According to the human rights organization that helped the soldiers, the six servicemen fled Russia to Kazakhstan in 2022 and 2023.
“When I landed in France, it was the first time I could breathe fully. I felt a sense of calmness and freedom … the worst was behind me,” said Alexander, who defected in the summer of 2023.
The report revealed that those granted temporary visas included individuals who fought in the war against Ukraine, as well as conscripts and officers who managed to avoid being sent to the front lines.
“This is the first time an EU country let in a group of defectors who did not have any travel documents or foreign passports,” said Ivan Chuviliaev, spokesperson of the Go By The Forest, the organization helping Russian soldiers defect.
Although many Russians are able to flee to nearby countries like Kazakstan and Armenia, they report feeling unsafe in these countries due to Russia’s influence.
Some defectors have faced harsh fates even after moving to Europe. In February, Maksim Kuzminov, a Russian pilot who flew a helicopter into Ukraine and handed himself in, was later shot dead in Spain.
Chuviliaev claimed that each of the defectors underwent months of meticulous vetting to ensure their "strong, consistent anti-war stance" before being allowed entry into France.
According to The Guardian, the West has long struggled with the decision of whether to accept Russian soldiers who have deserted, facing ongoing questions about whether to view them as heroes, potential security risks, or war criminals.
“France’s decision is the result of extensive collaboration between French authorities and a group of human rights organizations,” said Chuviliaev. “We hope this marks the beginning of more deserters being let into Europe” he added.
Incidents of Russian sabotage have been on the rise since the beginning of Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with constant new reports appearing.
Recently, Ken McCallum, the Director General of the Security Service (MI5), has warned of threats emanating from Russia's intelligence. He stated that Russia seeks to generate “sustained mayhem” on British and European streets by resorting to sabotage, arson, and other dangerous actions.
At the same time, on October 14, Germany’s Interior Minister, Nancy Faeser, also raised concerns over the growing threat posed by Russian sabotage activities in the country.
