"Poland and Baltic States Reject Russian Draft Dodgers Seeking Asylum"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] As Russia has issued a military mobilization order, Poland and the three Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania), which share borders with Russia, have decided not to allow asylum for Russian men, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on the 23rd (local time).

According to the report, these countries have established a joint policy to exclude expanding the "asylum criteria" that could lead to the entry of Russians fleeing the military mobilization order recently issued by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Officials interviewed by WSJ stated that they cannot accept potential Russian conscripts at the risk of jeopardizing their internal security.

WSJ analyzed that the tough stance of Poland and the three Baltic states partially explains the strategy for ending the war in Ukraine. They have chosen a method of weakening President Putin's political power and pressuring the regime by making ordinary Russians feel the pain.

Buthele Pai, an advisor to the Estonian Minister of the Interior, said, "We must always keep in mind the goal of ending the war," adding, "There will be no end to the war unless Russian public opinion opposes it."

Since the 19th, Poland and the three Baltic states have blocked the entry of most Russians. As a result, the only land route to the European Union (EU) practically remaining is through Finland.