Men flee Russia after call-ups to Ukraine invasion
Queues stretching for six miles formed on a road leading to the southern border with Georgia.
The lines of cars were so long at the border with Kazakhstan that some people abandoned their vehicles and proceeded on foot.
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Hide AdMeanwhile, dozens of flights out of Russia — with tickets sold at sky-high prices — carried men to Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Serbia, where Russians do not need visas.
Among those who reached Turkey was a 41-year-old who landed in Istanbul with a suitcase and a backpack and plans to set up a new life in Israel.
“I’m against this war, and I’m not going to be a part of it. I’m not going to be a murderer,” said the man, who identified himself only as Yevgeny to avoid retribution on his family left behind in Russia.
He referred to Vladimir Putin as a “war criminal”.
German government officials have suggested helping Russian men deserting military service, and are calling for a Europe-wide solution that might see them afforded refugee status if they faced repression.