During demonstrations against the partial mobilization announced by Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine, protests erupted across Russia on Wednesday. More than 1,300 people were arrested. The first family fathers have already been called up and more and more able-bodied men are leaving the country. The European Union is now also addressing the question of how to deal with those fleeing war. Austria must also prepare for asylum seekers.
“This is an unprecedented situation, we are investigating it from a security perspective,” a spokeswoman for the European Commission said in Brussels on Thursday. But the specific decision on visa matters is partly in the hands of the EU countries, a spokesperson emphasizes.
The committee spokesperson evaded the question of whether there would be a separate solution for ‘fleeing’ Russians. Border management must be in line with international and European regulations of the EU member states. The Schengen Code allows refusal of entry for security reasons. The EU Commission is currently in contact with EU countries to monitor the situation. The Commission supports them and tries to “prepare the next step”.
The Brussels government spoke of “possibly numerous” investigations, but has no current figures on this. But since the outbreak of the war, according to the committee spokesperson, half a million people have fled Russia and have found their place in Europe or elsewhere.
The spokeswoman also pointed out that EU law protects people who apply for asylum. But each case is checked individually at the borders. The EU countries would work on a common approach.
For example, after a partial mobilization, Finland reported an increased number of arrivals from Russia. Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto stressed that he wanted to find his own solution to the issue of Russian tourist visas: “Finland does not want to become a transit country for Schengen visas issued by other countries.” The situation is similar in the Baltic states, which already restrict entry of Russians into the country.
Video: Speaker of Parliament calls on Duma deputies to fight
‘Austria safe for Ukrainians and Russians’
Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen proposed a humanitarian engagement on Wednesday, including for Russian citizens. “We are a safe place for people from Ukraine, and we should be a safe place for Russians who are now being forced to leave their homes,” he said. Since the announcement of a partial mobilization on Wednesday, there has been no noticeable development in Austria. But a flight movement is not excluded.
The Interior Ministry said the principle of “individual procedure management” applies in the Austrian asylum procedure. This means that for each asylum application and international protection, it is individually assessed whether there are grounds for persecution under the Geneva Refugee Convention, grounds for subsidiary protection or for a residence permit for overriding reasons.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
