Russian anti-draft protestors drafted

RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS - In Brief 25 Sep 2022 by Alex Teddy
Since the mobilization of 300,000 reservists was announced on September 23 there have been protests in several Russian cities. The police have arrested protestors, and in the cases of young men, handed them draft notices. The police confiscate the passport of the detainee and then use the information to fill in the draft paperwork.  Roughly 2,000 people were arrested for anti-draft protest on September 23 and 24. Protests on September 24 were much smaller than the previous day. This suggests that the policy of drafting demonstrators is having a deterrent effect. Unapproved public meetings are illegal in Russia. Protestors have said they do not wish to be cannon fodder and have called for peace. On September 24 the president signed a decree mandating 10 years in prison for any soldier who refuses to fight, deserts or surrenders voluntarily. A decree also gives Russian citizenship to any foreigner who fights for Russia. On September 20 Russia opened a recruitment center for foreigners in Moscow. Russia is hoping guest workers from poverty-stricken former USSR countries such as Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan might volunteer. However, these countries have warned their citizens not to enlist in the Russian Army on pain of imprisonment.  Russian citizenship is attractive to people from Central Asia. It usually takes 5 years of residence and thousands of USD to obtain.  On the Georgian border there is a back-up of 30 km as Russians are trying to drive to Georgia to avoid the draft. Moscow initially said it was a lie that people were fleeing the draft. Russia's neighbors have said they will not offer asylum to those evading the draft.

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