Russian defectors can get asylum in Sweden, if they risk being forced to commit war crimes
- Roughly 150 Russian men have applied for asylum in Sweden since the partial mobilization in Russia last year.
- They may be able to get asylum in Sweden if they can prove that they would be forced to commit war crimes in Ukraine if they joined the Russian army, the Swedish Migration Agency says.
- It can, however, be difficult for Russians to get into the EU today as some countries are no longer issuing tourist visas to them.
Radio Sweden
For more on how Russian defectors can get asylum in Sweden, listen to Radio Sweden’s full report.
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Work visa approved for foreign worker who fought to stay in N.W.T., CBC News
Finland: Hundreds of foreign soldiers join military exercise in Arctic Finland, The Independent Barents Observer
Norway: Norway hesitates on granting asylum to Russians fleeing army draft, The Independent Barents Observer
Russia: Strengthen border to Nordic countries, says secretary of Russia’s Security Council, The Independent Barents Observer
Sweden: Norway, Finland, Sweden prioritize North in updated statement, Eye on the Arctic
United States: U.S. Coast Guard talks Arctic at recent summit, Eye on the Arctic
