EU Council President Charles Michel is calling on Europe to take in Russian refugees

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Charles Michel before the UN General Assembly

Photo: CAITLIN OCHS / REUTERS

In the discussion in the US magazine »Politico« on how to deal with Russian conscientious objectors and deserters, the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, called on Europe to be »open to those who do not want to be instrumentalized by the Kremlin«.

The comments came after Michel's speech to the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Friday and ahead of a key meeting of EU ambassadors on Monday as part of the EU's Integrated Political Crisis Response (IPCR), Politico reports.

Michel is further quoted there: "Basically, I think that ... the European Union [should] take in those who are in danger because of their political views." And that includes refusing to be drafted into the war.

"If in Russia people are at risk because of their political views because they don't follow the crazy Kremlin decision to wage war in Ukraine, we have to take that into account."

“Russians should stay and fight.

Against Putin.«

Michel does not meet with approval everywhere in Europe.

Lithuania's Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis strictly rejected the admission of Russian conscientious objectors on Friday evening.

"Lithuania will not give asylum to those who run away from their responsibilities," Landsbergis wrote on Twitter.

“Russians should stay and fight.

Against Putin.«

There is enough for them to do, he added on Saturday afternoon on Twitter: »What Russian men can do instead of fleeing to Europe: protest.

disobey.

desertion.

prisoner of war.

Mutiny.« Asylum for 25 million conscientious objectors is not an option.

It is the task of the Russians to liberate Russia.

Gabrielius Landsbergis is the grandson of Vytautas Landsbergis, the first head of state of Lithuania after regaining independence in 1990.

The three Baltic states have closed their borders to Russia.

Finland is also considering this step.

SPD domestic politician: For Putin, refugees are part of the war strategy

In the view of the domestic policy spokesman for the SPD parliamentary group, Sebastian Hartmann, the current challenges posed by flight and irregular migration cannot be overcome without a new vote at European level.

"Bombing people, women and children to flee, that has long been part of Russian hybrid warfare - just like disinformation - we have to keep reminding ourselves," Hartmann told the German Press Agency.

He added: "President Vladimir Putin did that in Syria, then the flights agreed with Moscow came to Belarus, and that's also a factor in his war of aggression in Ukraine."

Since the announcement of partial Russian mobilization in the war against Ukraine, the number of departures from Russia has increased.

Politicians in Germany and Europe are discussing how to deal with Russian conscientious objectors.

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