Dual citizens who may be considering a trip to Russia should think twice. A new decree signed by Vladimir Putin may put them on the front lines in Ukraine.
Putin Signs Orders Making Dual Russian Citizens Eligible For Military Draft
As Russia continues to besiege Ukraine, the number of Russian casualties has continued to rise. Last week, US officials estimated that over 100,000 Russian soldiers had died or suffered injury as a result of the invasion. Exit controls for Russian males of military age have already been tightened and now President Vladimir Putin has taken it a step further.
On Monday, Putin signed a decree that now makes Russians with dual citizenship eligible to be drafted into the service of the Russian military. Since 1999, those Russians with dual citizenship or with permanent residency in a foreign country were not eligible to be drafted. That regulation has now been revoked.
While nationals of any country can continue to serve as mercenaries in the Russian military, this move makes eligible Russian nationals living outside Russia for military conscription. It is therefore advisable to weigh very carefully, especially if a male of fighting age, a trip to Russia in the months ahead.
Currently, recent conscripts have not been placed on the front lines of the “special military operation” in Ukraine, though after three months of duty they can volunteer (for additional hazard pay) to transfer to the front lines. But if this quagmire for Russia continues for months (or God forbid years), it could well be that Russia has no other choice but to draft all soldiers it can get its hand on.
It is believed that roughly 543,000 Russians have declared a second citizenship or filed proof of a residency permit in a foreign country.
Interestingly, Russia is still issuing tourist visas in the USA to Americans and other nationals. As tempting as it is to check out what Russia is like in wartime, I’m not prepared to venture into Russia at this time. But dual Russian citizens should expertise extreme caution during this time.
CONCLUSION
With Putin’s latest decree, Russians who live outside of Russia or who hold two passports may be conscripted into service if inside the Russian Federation. Those dual nationals or foreign residents should think twice before traveling to Russia in the weeks (and probably months) ahead.
I shall quit playing hockey and immediately go fight for the motherland!
Me thinks Alex Ovechkin will be ok, you know, he is buddies with Putin and all. I continue to be amazed how Russian hockey players get a free pass back and forth to the U.S. and few bat an eye. I guess when it comes down to it the war is horrible unless of course your favorite player is what stands between you and the Stanley Cup.
This is not surprising. A lot of countries that require dual-citizenship often require their dual-citizenship citizens to enlist if the country is in war and/or if they require military service, perform military service before a certain age. If this is not fulfilled, then there are severe penalties associated with failing to comply and usually, these people often forfeit dual-citizenship to avoid military service.
Before the pandemic, I was considering a trip to St. Petersburg, in part, to see the Hermitage art museum. Now, that is completely off the table. I value personal safety. I do not want to be in a Russian prison with a trumped up charge. The US State Department is powerless if you are arrested in Russia.
Unfortunately, I see myself not going to Russia for at least the next 15 years or more. It’s just not worth the risk. With Afghanistan, the risk is even worse. I predict that it will be dangerous for the rest of my life.
The Hermitage (and the palaces and canals) was on my bucket list as well. That’s out for the rest of my life. The closest I’ll get to St. Petersburg is flying into TPA.
And best to avoid even Russian air space. Today the Netherlands charged 3 Russians with a 2014 missile strike on a Malaysian Air flight. Shot down at 33,000 feet in Russian air space near the Ukraine border. Apparently mistaken for a military flight.
Why would anyone travel to Russia? Maybe having family members there is a good reason but probably easier to get them out them going in. I would never risk getting into a place where they make their rules on the fly. Ask that US basketball player how things worked for her.
If you’re a dual citizen, it’s very likely that you have friends and family back there. Maybe there’s a big family event, maybe someone has fallen ill?
And no, it’s not easier to get them out than going in, it’s next to impossible.
But I agree that travelling to Russia should be avoided, especially for Russian citizens, especially men, but not only.
Russia: A nation of liars, cheats, mafia thugs, and state-sponsored terrorism directed at entire nations as well as random individuals. It’s nothing more than a criminal enterprise sitting on a lot of oil with a vast but rusting stockpile of weapons. They do not follow any rules, there is no low they won’t sink to. The world needs to treat them like the mafia they are.
The Russian trolls will be along any moment to spread their lies. Fuck them all, fascist scum.
Agreed Bobo Polanski. And getting worse each day
I wonder if Russia is releasing conscripts when their term is up. With Putin emptying the prisons to get cannon fodder and throwing in raw recruits into the fight with under a month’s training, things are pretty desperate.
I understand the desire to be welcoming and charitable. But any country bordering Russia that accepts Russian nationals is asking for trouble.
The justification Russia used for invading the Donbass, Crimea, South Ossetia, Transnistria, Abkhazia, and more was in large part to protect native Russians from some imagined oppression by the sovereign nation they were living in.
In 20 years the current “refugees” will be a justification for the next land grab. If native Russians disagree with the conflict they need to go back and fight to make Russia better.
Would have been more accurate for the title to have read “Why Russian Dual Citizens Should Avoid Travel To Russia”, since the title makes it seem it could be something affecting all dual citizens regardless if Russian or not…
Actually, any rational person should avoid travel to Russia, and even avoid flying any of the remaining airlines that continue to overfly Russian airspace. In an emergency, that plane could easily divert to some Russian airport, then you are at the mercy of Putin’s henchmen. Off to the gulag you go, comrade, like so many others.
USA and NATO should be handing long-range, offensive weapons to Ukraine and let Zelenskyy turn off the lights in Moscow and leave St Petersburg shivering in the cold, dark winter. Yes, start blowing up shit in Russia itself, bring the war home to them.