After the partial mobilization in Russia, the debate about accepting conscientious objectors and deserters flared up.

Politicians from both the coalition and the opposition spoke out in favor of easier admission.

Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) explained that deserters usually received protection in Germany.

"Anyone who courageously opposes the regime of President Vladimir Putin and therefore puts himself in the greatest danger can apply for asylum in Germany because of political persecution," she told the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Sunday newspaper".

However, the granting of asylum is a case-by-case decision, which also includes a security check.

The Greens parliamentary secretary Irene Mihalic told the "Rheinische Post": "Anyone who does not want to take part as a soldier in Putin's murderous war of aggression against Ukraine, which violates international law, and therefore flees Russia, must be granted asylum in Germany." This must be guaranteed also an important signal to all Russian soldiers not to allow themselves to be exploited.

SPD parliamentary group leader Dirk Wiese told the newspaper that he considered the stricter penalties that would threaten people if they were withdrawn from the draft already sufficient as a reason for asylum under the current legal situation.

274 Russians admitted

Greens foreign politician Anton Hofreiter told the newspaper that the Federal Republic must also "intensify its efforts to offer Russian opposition members in Germany a safe contact point".

It is "better if opponents of the regime from exile work for changes in their homeland" than if they sit in Russian prisons for years, said Hofreiter.

The vice-chairman of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, Johann Wadephul, also pleaded in the newspapers of the Funke media group for easier admission of Russian deserters in Germany.

"Humanitarian visas must now be interpreted broadly and comprehensively," he said.

Soldiers who openly opposed the Putin regime must be allowed to live in safety.

"They deserve our support."

Regarding the discussion, the Ukrainian ambassador in Berlin, Andriy Melnyk, tweeted: "Wrong approach!

sorry

Young Russians who don't want to go to war must finally overthrow Putin and his racist regime instead of running away and enjoying dolce vita in the West.”

The "Rheinische Post" reported, citing a spokeswoman for the Federal Ministry of the Interior, that since the start of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine on February 24, 274 Russian nationals and 164 family members had been granted admission to Germany for conscientious objection.

After the Kremlin announced that 300,000 reservists had been called up, many young men tried to escape from Russia.

There were protests in Russia against the measure with hundreds of arrests.

Finland wants to close border

Many Russians try to emigrate to neighboring Finland.

The south-eastern border with Russia continues to be heavily frequented, the country's border guards told Reuters news agency on Friday.

As early as Thursday, the number of Russian citizens entering the country more than doubled compared to the previous week.

"It's still busy this morning...maybe a little more than yesterday," a border guard spokesman said early Friday morning.

The longest line formed at the busy Vaalimaa border crossing.

There the cars were backed up over a length of about 500 meters.

Queues were also “longer than usual” at the second largest border crossing, Nuijamaa.

However, the EU member state wants to prevent most Russians from entering the country.

The government in Helsinki is considering entry restrictions for Russian citizens.

The reason is the increasing border traffic between the two countries after the announcement of a partial mobilization in Russia, said Prime Minister Sanna Marin.

"The government's will is very clear, we believe that Russian tourism must be stopped, as well as transit through Finland," she said on Thursday.

Finnish border crossings are among the few entry points for Russians into Europe.

The EU countries Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, which also border Russia, have been turning Russian citizens away at the borders for a few days.