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https://theconversation.com/ukraine-war-why-russians-fleeing-conscription-should-be-treated-as-refugees-191450>
"People fleeing across borders is a hallmark of armed conflict. We first saw
millions of Ukrainians flee the country when the Russians invaded Ukraine in
February this year. Now there are reports of hundreds of thousands of Russians
fleeing their country in order to avoid Russia’s first mobilisation since the
second world war.
So how should the west respond to young Russian men fleeing to avoid military
service? Politically and legally, according to international law, they must be
given protection.
Conscription into military service has a long history dating back at least to
ancient Egypt. But it has been slowly disappearing with the professionalisation
of the world’s militaries. However, conscription remains a rite of passage in
more than 100 countries – including Russia which has a long and difficult
practice of conscription.
Refusal to perform military service also has a long history. In Europe, Saint
Maximilian of Tebessa (in Algeria) was executed in 295 AD for refusing to serve
in the Roman legions because of his religious beliefs – the first record of a
conscientious objector. In more recent decades, tens of thousands of Americans
fled to Canada to avoid the Vietnam War, Kurds have sought protection in the
UKx, to avoid service in Turkey’s war against them and US soldiers have
deserted to avoid service in the invasion of Iraq.
Today, international human rights law and international humanitarian law impose
limits on conscription and international refugee law requires states to offer
protection to some of those who flee it."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
