– Fuck yourself!
This is how Russian Aleksi reacted when this week saw the news of the announcement of a partial mobilization by President Vladimir Putin.
According to the decision, 300,000 reservists will be called into service.
As a 26-year-old Russian man, this is a mobilization that could affect his life.
– I’m in the second category of reservists. I can be named after the first one, says Aleksi on TV 2.
Arrested
Aleksi lives in the Russian city of Tomsk and works as a saleswoman.
On Wednesday 21 September, the day when the news of the mobilization arrived, he left his job earlier than usual.
– I was full of frustration and wanted to protest this madness, says Aleksi.
At the same time, he knew that the demonstrations would not last long. After arriving downtown, he was arrested after a short time.
Together with other protesters, he remained arrested and taken to the police station.
– On Wednesday evening, many were arrested after demonstrations against Putin’s war mobilization. Photo: Alexander Zemlianichenko
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The police confiscated his phone. He was later released. He was told that he will get his cell phone back after the investigation is over.
– Stop the madness
If Aleksi protests again, he will be prosecuted as a criminal, but that doesn’t stop the young man.
– We have to express our opinion and stop the madness, says Aleksi.
According to Aleksi, Putin is using war to stay in power. He believes that Putin is responsible for the people killed on both the Ukrainian and Russian sides.
Aleksi says he refuses to die in Putin’s war.
– This war is a crime against humanity, he says.
I’d rather die in prison
Those who are called to service must participate in the war. If you refuse this, you risk up to 10 years in prison, according to the bill approved by the Duma on Wednesday.
This means that Aleksi risks being sentenced to 10 years in prison because he refuses to fight in Ukraine.
– Our soldiers kill innocent people. This is terrible, says Aleksi and continues:
– I would rather die in prison than fight in Ukraine, I will do everything not to be sent to war.
Aleksi is not alone. He has many friends who think alike and tell him.
– There are many who do not want war in Ukraine!
Called a coward
At the same time, Aleksi receives criticism from the Russians who support Putin’s decision.
They call the Russians critics of the regime, like Aleksi, “cowards”. According to them, in times of war one must support one’s country.
– They say that we are cowards, because “we are afraid to fight for our country and that we are afraid of dying”.
– It’s completely insane, he adds.
So far, thousands of Russians have fled the country for fear of being sent to war by the authorities. Some of them are friends with Aleksi, but he has no plans to leave Russia.
Use of words
Aleksi tries to raise his voice against Putin and has an appeal from the outside world to change the words about the Russians.
– There is a big difference between Putin and Russia. We keep hearing that “the Russians are fascists”, but we are not, says Aleksi and continues:
– WANTS PEACE: 26-year-old Alexi is against war. Photo: private
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– We are hostages in our own country, he finally says.
Troops up
On Wednesday morning, President Vladimir Putin launched strong accusations and threats against the West, while announcing an increase in the number of soldiers at war in Ukraine.
The military escalation order is Russia’s first since World War II, and the last time Putin gave a televised speech was before the invasion began in February.
Russian forces are under great pressure in Ukraine and this latest move is interpreted by many as a desperate act.
Experts question how easy it will be to raise 300,000 reservists and the decision is likely to create political opposition when children, husbands and brothers are ordered to go to war.
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