Russian Draft Dodgers Are Europe's Newest Refugees
Germany is right: Europe should be a haven for Russians fleeing Putin’s mobilization — but still keep out his “little green men.”
Too late to go to Germany now.
Photographer: Alexander Nemenov/AFP via Getty Images
Since last week, when Russian President Vladimir Putin announced he’d mobilize hundreds of thousands of additional soldiers, Russian men have been trying their best to get the heck out of the country. The question for us in the West is: Should we let those draft dodgers in?
Yes, says Germany. Anybody who hates “Putin’s way” and loves liberal democracy is welcome, tweeted Marco Buschmann, Germany’s justice minister, just after Putin spoke. In 2015, the German government initially said “Welcome, refugees” to the Syrians; in 2022, it appears to be getting ready to greet the Russians the same way.