The number of Russian citizens seeking asylum in Sweden has increased over the past few years, with 747 applications received by the Swedish Migration Agency last year. This is nearly twice as many as in 2019, the year before the pandemic, and around three times as many as in 2021. The surge was particularly notable during the first weeks of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine in early March, and after President Vladimir Putin announced that an additional 300,000 Russians would be drafted into the conflict in September.
There are varying attitudes towards Russian conscientious objectors across the EU. While Austria and Germany express willingness to grant asylum to such individuals, the Baltic states do not. The Swedish Migration Minister, Maria Malmer Stenergard, did not comment on the decisions of other EU countries, but confirmed that Russian asylum seekers are subject to the same regulations as people from other nations. However, the Swedish government has no intention to change these regulations.
Last year, 104 Russian citizens were granted asylum in Sweden, but it is unclear whether any were conscientious objectors since the Swedish Migration Agency does not keep statistics on reasons for asylum. Nonetheless, the Russian aggression in Ukraine has been problematic, with reports of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Refusal to serve in the military could warrant grounds for asylum, but a variety of conditions must be met. The Swedish Migration Agency looks at factors such as whether the person is likely to be conscripted, what punishment they can expect for non-compliance, and the conditions of military service and possible imprisonment.
The EU’s approach to asylum applications from Russian men of military age could affect the number of applications going forward. Economic developments in Russia and potential further mobilisations could also have an impact.
The number of Russians seeking asylum in Sweden is increasing. Last year, the Swedish Migration Agency received 747 asylum applications from Russian citizens. That is about three times as many as in 2021 and almost twice as many as in 2019, the year before the pandemic broke out.
Search pressure was at its peak in early March, during the first weeks of Russia’s full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine. A new increase was recorded after Vladimir Putin’s speech in September, when the president announced that another 300,000 Russians would be drafted into the war.
Number of Russians who applied for asylum in Sweden
Source: Swedish Migration Agency.
The countries in Europe have different attitudes towards Russians who want to leave the country to avoid being drafted into the army. While Germany and Austria say they are open to granting asylum to Russian conscientious objectors, the Baltic states say no.
Sweden’s Migration Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard writes to DN that she does not want to comment on the decisions of other EU countries.
“But as far as people from Russia who seek asylum are concerned, they are subject to the same regulations as people from other countries, and the Swedish Migration Agency makes individual examinations in the individual cases. The government has no intention of changing those regulations,” she writes.
During last year 104 Russian citizens received asylum in Sweden. Since the Swedish Migration Agency does not keep statistics on reasons for asylum, the authority cannot answer whether any of these were conscientious objectors. Press communicator Didzis Melbiksis states that several factors are weighed when the authority assesses whether Russians who do not want to fight have the right to asylum.
“The Russian war in Ukraine is problematic and there are several reports of war crimes and crimes against humanity. In practice, this can mean that a refusal to do military service can be grounds for asylum. However, there are a number of conditions that must be met,” writes Didzis Melbiksis to DN.
Photo: Robert Haecks
The Swedish Migration Agency assesses, among other things, how likely it is that the person will be conscripted into the army and what punishment the person can expect if he refuses to fight. The conditions during military service and during a possible prison sentence are also weighed into the assessment.
The practice that the EU countries develop for asylum applications from Russian men of military age will affect the number of applications going forward, according to Didzis Melbiksis. The development of the Russian economy and possible further mobilizations can also have an effect on search pressure.