Fearing conscription, anti-war Russians flock to Uzbekistan
Al JazeeraAPR 2 2022
It is immensely disappointing to see how long it took for these men to be allowed to plea for refugee status and even more upsetting that another man has been rejected. Having fled Russia to avoid killing or being killed in an unjust war in Ukraine, these people can no longer return to their home nation without facing punishing measures. South Korea should accept these refugees, who have shown bravery in abandoning their home country and conscientiously objecting to an illegal war.
Although these men may fear punishment if they return to Russia, avoiding compulsory military service is not a valid reason for a refugee status claim. South Korea has been generous enough to accept two applications on these grounds, but it is not the place of the international community to make moral judgements about South Korea's asylum criteria.