MOSCOW: Moscow said Tuesday it will not request the extradition of Russians traveling abroad to avoid being called-up to fight in Ukraine, after thousands of military-aged men crossed into neighboring countries.
“The Russian ministry of defense has not sent any request to the authorities of Kazakhstan, Georgia, or any other country for the alleged forced return to Russian soil of Russian citizens, and it is not planning to do so,” the ministry said in a statement.
Neighbouring countries have seen Russians arriving en masse since the draft was announced last Wednesday, with hours-long queues at border crossings.
On Tuesday, Central Asian nation Kazakhstan said around 98,000 Russians entered the country since Wednesday.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev vowed to protect the safety and welfare of Russians fleeing a “hopeless situation” on Tuesday.
Russians have also headed to the neighboring Black Sea nation of Georgia, which saw the number of Russians arriving daily nearly double since the mobilization announcement.
On Tuesday the local interior ministry in a Russian region that borders Georgia said the situation at the border was “extremely tense.”
The ministry added that a mobile mobilization office will be set up at the border in the “near future.”
Moscow says will not seek extradition of Russians fleeing draft
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Moscow says will not seek extradition of Russians fleeing draft
- Neighbouring countries have seen Russians arriving en masse since the draft was announced last Wednesday
- On Tuesday, Central Asian nation Kazakhstan said around 98,000 Russians entered the country since Wednesday
NATO’s Rutte says Arctic talks with Trump will focus on keeping Russia, China out
- Donald Trump has repeatedly said he wanted to acquire Greenland, citing national security
- US President’s ambitions have put strain on the NATO alliance
DAVOS, Switzerland: NATO Secretary Mark Rutte said on Thursday that he and US President Trump had discussed in Davos how the transatlantic alliance should best defend the Arctic against Russia and China.
Trump has repeatedly said he wanted to acquire Greenland, citing national security, though on Wednesday he ruled out using force and suggested a deal was in sight to end the dispute over the Danish overseas territory following talks with Rutte.
Trump’s ambitions have put strain on the NATO alliance.
Rutte said he had a “very good discussion” with Trump on how NATO allies can work collectively to ensure Arctic security, including not just Greenland but the seven NATO nations with land in the Arctic.
Further talks would build on the Washington meeting last week between the United States and delegations from Denmark and Greenland. “One workstream coming out of yesterday ... is to make sure when it comes to Greenland, particularly, that we ensure that the Chinese and the Russians will not gain access to the Greenland economy (or) militarily to Greenland,” Rutte told a panel at the World Economic Forum.
