“Exiles” lawyer Artem Klyga specializes in defending war refusers, and often speaks about the systemic problems that exist in this field.
In a recent address at an OSCE session, the lawyer stressed that in Russia, refusing to take part in the war can lead to criminal prosecution, pressure, violence and torture. That is why Russians who do not want to fight against Ukraine have to flee Russia to other countries.
In this connection, the lawyer made three requests to OSCE countries:
- Recognize that Russians have no effective lawful mechanism that allows them to refuse to take part in the war.
- Do not create additional obstacles for Russians who are trying to avoid military service and obtain lawful permission for temporary stay abroad.
- Stop the practice of arbitrarily detaining and returning to their homeland individuals who have deserted from the Russian armed forces, since they may face persecution or torture there.
“Exiles” is a Russian-speaking community of lawyers defending migrants in Europe. If you need help, write to our direct messages or email.
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