New mobilization – How the Kremlin harassed fleeing Russians

Berlin Ahead of an expected new round of mobilization and forced conscription, Russian authorities are ramping up pressure on all Russians who have fled military service abroad. The President of the House of Commons, Duma chief Vyacheslav Volodin, has now suggested a corresponding law: According to this, their assets should be confiscated if they do not return.

Analysts both in Russia and in Western security circles expect that Russian President Vladimir Putin will shortly be allowing more Russians to be drafted into the military because of the muddled military situation and the high casualties. The Kremlin has so far denied this.

Kremlin chief Putin last drafted 300,000 soldiers after the partial mobilization on September 21 – and thus already triggered a wave of refugees. Based on Russian migration flows, the private Russian Alfa Bank has calculated that at least 1.1 million Russians have left their country since then. Russian media even calculated a number of more than two million refugees.