German deputies stand up for politically persecuted Russians | News from Germany about Germany | DW

Bundestag member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) Frank Schwabe (Frank Schwabe) expressed the hope that Russian deserters, journalists and human rights activists will soon be able to receive “comprehensive protection” in Germany. “Currently, the German government is reviewing its assessment of Russia and Belarus in terms of comprehensive protection against deportation,” Schwabe said in an interview with Die Welt on Friday, March 11.

“I suppose that very clear rules will appear very soon,” the deputy noted. The German Ministry of the Interior, at the request of the publication, refused to comment on such plans.

Meanwhile, the representative of the Left Party in the Bundestag, Clara Bünger (Clara Bünger) urged the authorities to give a “signal” to the Russian opposition. “The German government must send a clear message that all people who are persecuted for political reasons in Russia because they stand up for human rights will receive protection in Germany,” she said. The same, she said, should apply to people “who refuse military service because they do not want to participate in a war of aggression that is contrary to international law.”

BAMF statistics on requests of Russians for asylum in Germany

So far, however, few Russians have sought protection in Germany. When asked by Die Welt about the number of asylum applications, the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) said that in December 2021, 96 applications were submitted from Russian citizens, in January – 102, and in February – 132.

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