A Moscow mommy chat is now discussing how to dodge the draft is simply not taking the paper into one’s hands enough is it worth jail time or better to leave now before draft papers can be served? The moms know laws mean nothing now. Five years ago it was all nannies & holidays.
No one believes state promise not to go after students etc. There is a real sense of panic as each family decides what to do. And let’s remember it’s only a tiny number of families who can afford to think about flying abroad and living there for months with no job or income.
Russians abroad share knowledge. Real estate connections in Turkey, Armenia. How to emigrate to Cyprus, Greece. Much of EU will be tricky as large numbers of Ukrainian refugees & inflation have already made real estate market very tight. Plus no provisions for Russians fleeing.
A Russian man age 30 married two kids 5 and 1 had done his military service was promoted then two university degrees now has his own business was called multiple times yesterday on his mobile by his local army recruiting office.
He is already in Morocco.
He is already in Morocco.
There are now Telegram groups for everything. One on which places in Moscow to avoid because they are handing out draft notices (subway stations etc) and one on all the border crossings and live info on how to get across and where. Unbelievable.
When men pass through border control at Russian airports, they are being asked a question about if they ever served in the military, but for the moment are still being allowed to fly out. I say for the moment because I imagine things can change quickly.
The Telegram stuff is incredible. Men are flying everywhere: India, Egypt, wherever they got a ticket to. At the moment border guards are asking questions but letting men through, however one guard admits even they don’t know what the orders will be for their next shift.
Not everyone is so lucky. There are messages as well from men not let out (Kazakh border crossing by car). They were out immediately on a bus to the draft office.
On the other channel about draft notices, there are photos and videos this morning from places around Moscow where police are stopping men at random on foot and by car and checking their documents. It’s calm; you almost wouldn’t notice it if you didn’t look closely.
@threadreaderapp pls unroll
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