CNN reported on the 28th (local time) that Russians who fled conscription in Russia, which has been at war with Ukraine for almost a year, have been stuck at Incheon International Airport for months.
According to CNN, five Russian men who fled to South Korea after the Russian government ordered a military mobilization in September last year were stuck at Incheon International Airport because the Korean government refused to accept them. Three of them arrived in October and the other two in November of the same year and applied for refugee review.
Lawyer Lee Jong-chan (Public Interest Law Center Appeal), who is helping them in their lawsuit to cancel the decision not to refer to the refugee screening, told CNN, “They only have one lunch a day get it, and the rest includes bread and drinks.” He added, “You can take a shower, but you have to wash your hands and change your clothes, and the radius of the activity is limited to’ the departure hall and the duty free area.”
Attorney Lee also stated that “they do not receive support for mental health despite the limited opportunities to receive medical services and in an unstable situation.”
Previously, human rights groups such as the Refugee Human Rights Network filed a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission on the 30th of last month, claiming that the five Russians were virtually neglected because the Ministry of Justice refused refugee review.
Russians are on the move after crossing the border with Georgia on September 27 last year (local time). More and more Russians are fleeing the country after Russian President Vladimir Putin issued an order to mobilize reserve forces. 2022.09.28. AP/NewsAt the time, the Ministry of Justice deemed that he did not qualify for the audit, citing the reason that ‘evasion of military service simply does not qualify as a refugee reason’. However, the lawyers and human rights groups argued that they should be recognized as political refugees given that Russia’s attack on Ukraine violates international law and has been condemned.
The court’s decision on the legal case to cancel the decision not to refer to the refugee examination for three of them is expected to be made on the 31st of this month. If a judgment is made in their favour, the Ministry of Justice should reconsider granting refugee status.
In this regard, CNN noted that “conscription is a sensitive issue in South Korea, where all healthy men between the ages of 18 and 35 must serve in the military.” “In Korea, even athletes or K-pop stars cannot be exempted from military service,” he explained, adding that debates about conscientious objection and alternative service are still ongoing.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a partial evacuation in September last year to call up 300,000 troops. All men under the age of 60 with no criminal history are subject to conscription.
According to Bloomberg News, at least 200,000 Russians fled to Georgia, Kazakhstan, and neighboring European Union (EU) member states within a week of declaring the mobilization order. Soldiers who refuse to fight are said to be held in underground facilities in Russian-occupied Ukraine and tried to leave.
Donga.com reporter Kim So-young sykim41@donga.com
