Amid rumors of conscription into Putin's army, young people flee Russia: "It's a question of survival"
An organization assisting Russians leaving their country reports an almost eightfold increase in requests for help from fugitives, amid reports that the Russian army will announce a mobilization of forces to the front in Ukraine immediately after the parliamentary elections on Sunday. The departure is also driven by the growing suppression of individual freedoms, including severe restrictions on the internet.
The organization "Kovcheg," which helps Russians fleeing their country, reported that the number of requests it received last month was nearly eight times higher than in May. The sharp increase comes amid persistent rumors that the Russian army is about to announce another round of mobilization for the front in Ukraine immediately after the elections to the Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament, which conclude on Sunday. The Kremlin has strongly denied the claims, but Yan Slobitsky, an emergency aid coordinator at the organization, described a "wave of panic" of emigration since mid-July, linked to fears of conscription, the fuel crisis, and internet restrictions. The article describes the stories of several Russians who fled, including a 28-year-old digital content marketer from Krasnodar, a 23-year-old Moscow resident who feared her husband would be drafted, and Ivan Nazarov, a recent university graduate who moved to Yerevan. Some also cite the reduction in personal freedoms, such as LGBT activist Danil Naunov, who was arrested and sentenced to 10 days in prison for a shirt with a pride flag. The current wave is far from the scale of 2022, but the organization sees preparations for emigration.