Russia may be granted asylum by Latvia if they can prove they were called up to fight inUkraine.
Europe has largely rejected the idea of allowing Russians to flee out of fear that they will be sent to Ukraine. They say Russians should have opposed the war before there was a chance that they themselves would have to fight because of national security risks.
Artis Pabriks told Insider that his country may make exceptions for Russians who can prove they were called up.
We can put a Russian in a refugee camp if he comes to our border guard and says, "I am escaping, and I am trying to avoid it because I do not agree with this war."
His office said in a statement to Insider thatLatvia will consider those who have received papers to flee from Russia.
It said that Russians without this proof will not be considered for asylum.
Since Putin announced a partial mobilize, many Russians have left the country.
"We are not going to open a border simply to every male person from 18 to 60 or 65 because he might fall under the Mobilization," Pabriks said.
The route to fleeing Russians has been closed by neighbors who share a land border with Russia. Russia may be allowed to seek asylum in the EU.
Russian citizens can leave the country via other land borders.
Russia's other neighbors didn't take in fleeing Russians, according to Pabriks.
"Doing so would be a risk to European safety because we don't know who these people are," he stated.
About 70% of Russians were still behind Putin's war just a week ago, and that's one of the factors.
More than 70% of Russians supported the invasion. People may have been unwilling to say they don't support the war out of fear of being retaliated against.
Russian visitors have been blocked by the Baltic country in protest of Putin's actions.
"On the one hand, your country, your leadership, your society is fighting against your neighbor and are still coming to us and willing to rest at our beaches?" asked Pabriks. It is not possible to say yes. It is not how it should be.
A more cautious tone was taken by the foreign ministry.
According to Insider on Thursday, attempts to escape from Russia do not constitute enough grounds for being granted asylum. There is no obligation for Latvia to grant asylum. We don't think fleeing mobilize is enough grounds.
Latvia will accept those who are politically persecution by the regime.
Some Russians who have been mobilized may argue that they are being treated unfairly.
Pabriks said that Putin disproportionately called them up.
According to the Moscow Times, a lot of men were drafted from ethnic minorities.
Activist groups warn that men from minority background are dying at higher rates in the war.
Those who refuse to fight will be sentenced harshly by Russia.
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