Two Russians fleeing military service seek U.S. asylum
Two Russians fleeing military service have claimed asylum in the United States after arriving by boat in Alaska, authorities said on Thursday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin last month announced a partial military mobilization for Moscow's war in Ukraine. Tens of thousands of men have fled abroad to avoid being signed up.
The office of Senator Lisa Murkowski, who represents Alaska, said the two Russians claimed to be seeking asylum to avoid compulsory military service. They were found near an Alaskan city about 40 miles (64 km) from the Russian coast.
Putin's mobilization drive has proved one of Moscow's most unpopular moves, triggering protests in cities and regions across the country. Russia's invasion of Ukraine that started on Feb. 24 has begun to unravel after a Ukrainian counteroffensive regained thousands of square miles (km) of territory in the past month.
Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy said the two individuals came over from Russia in a boat and were being questioned.
"We don't anticipate a continual stream of individuals or a flotilla of individuals. We have no indication that's going to happen, so this may be a one-off," Dunleavy said in a statement.
The Russian embassy in Washington is aware of the case and plans to have a phone conversation with the two citizens soon, a spokeswoman at the mission was quoted as saying by Tass news agency.
Senator Dan Sullivan, who also represents Alaska, said Customs and Border Protection officials were assessing the case, which showed that "the Russian people don't want to fight Putin's war of aggression against Ukraine."
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed the two individuals arrived on Tuesday.
"The individuals were transported to Anchorage for inspection, which includes a screening and vetting process, and then subsequently processed in accordance with applicable U.S. immigration laws," a department spokesperson said.
The office of Senator Lisa Murkowski, who represents Alaska, said the two Russians claimed to be seeking asylum to avoid compulsory military service. They were found near an Alaskan city about 40 miles (64 km) from the Russian coast.
Putin's mobilization drive has proved one of Moscow's most unpopular moves, triggering protests in cities and regions across the country. Russia's invasion of Ukraine that started on Feb. 24 has begun to unravel after a Ukrainian counteroffensive regained thousands of square miles (km) of territory in the past month.
Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy said the two individuals came over from Russia in a boat and were being questioned.
"We don't anticipate a continual stream of individuals or a flotilla of individuals. We have no indication that's going to happen, so this may be a one-off," Dunleavy said in a statement.
The Russian embassy in Washington is aware of the case and plans to have a phone conversation with the two citizens soon, a spokeswoman at the mission was quoted as saying by Tass news agency.
Senator Dan Sullivan, who also represents Alaska, said Customs and Border Protection officials were assessing the case, which showed that "the Russian people don't want to fight Putin's war of aggression against Ukraine."
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed the two individuals arrived on Tuesday.
"The individuals were transported to Anchorage for inspection, which includes a screening and vetting process, and then subsequently processed in accordance with applicable U.S. immigration laws," a department spokesperson said.
AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
