Queues have been forming at Georgian border crossings since Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a partial military mobilization.
300,000 reservists, "especially those with military experience", are called in as reinforcements on the Ukrainian front.
This announcement caused the flight of thousands of men concerned to border countries, such as Georgia.
“Personally, I see no ideological or legal reason to get involved in this war,” says a Russian who fled his country.
“We paid $1,200 to be escorted.
If you honestly stand in line, leaving Russia can take at least 72 hours.
By paying, we did it in 30 hours,” says Alexander, a Russian production manager.
10 years in prison for deserters
To stem this revolt, Moscow has toughened the penalties for deserters and arrested hundreds of demonstrators.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed amendments providing for up to 10 years in prison for soldiers who desert or refuse to fight.
He also signed a law that facilitates access to Russian nationality for foreigners who enlist for at least a year in the army, at a time when Moscow is seeking by all means to recruit more men to fight in Ukraine.
