Men in Russia flee or are pressed into service following mobilization decision as public anger grows
MOSCOW — Following the announcement by Russian President Vladimir Putin of partial mobilization in Russia with the aim of strengthening the Russian Army as the tide of its invasion of Ukraine begins to turn, there has been an exodus of men aged between 18 to 65 years. Plane tickets to Serbia, Turkey, and Georgia, selling for ten times their normal price, have sold out. Huge lines of traffic trying to cross into Finland and Georgia have formed.
Landed in Istanbul airport yesterday and got stuck here for two hours and the number of young Russian men arriving in Istanbul is incredible. Almost the entirety of the vast airport and the very lengthy taxi queue was full of Russian-speaking arrivals by the hundreds.
— Akin Unver (@AkinUnver) September 23, 2022
Tens of thousands of Russian citizens demonstrated across the country against the announcement of mobilization.
The demonstrations were met with repression by Russian security forces who arrested over 1,300 people in 38 cities.
The demonstrations are the largest since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine.
"I am not going to die for Putin."
More than 1,300 people from 38 cities in Russia were detained after street protests against the "partial mobilization" policy announced by President Vladimir Putin that would press 300,000 into military service. https://t.co/QfcsbSTwmo pic.twitter.com/cgBvUCftrj
— The New York Times (@nytimes) September 22, 2022
LEBANON: President of Universal Syriac Union Party Ibrahim Mrad advocates for federalism and condemns Hezbollah in interview with Walid Abboud
BEIRUT — In an interview with Lebanese journalist Walid Abboud on the Lebanese channel …
