"When I landed in France, it was the first time I could breathe fully. I felt a sense of calmness and freedom; the worst was behind me," Alexander, a former Russian contract soldier, shared.“
"The EU and its member states have publicly discussed offering asylum to Russian deserters, but no decision has been reached. This case marks a significant shift in that conversation."
"This is the first time an EU country let in a group of deserters who did not have any travel documents or foreign passports," said Ivan Chuviliaev, spokesperson of Go By The Forest.
"Since the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, tens of thousands of Russian soldiers have deserted or refused orders to fight, illustrating the complex moral and political dilemmas these individuals face."
Collection
[
|
...
]