France refused asylum to a Russian officer who refused to fight

France refused asylum to Russian officer Farhad Zyganshin, who refused to go to war in Ukraine and emigrated to Kazakhstan. This is reported by “Sota”.

According to “Sota”, 23-year-old Zyganshin was rejected due to insufficient “opposition experience”. In order to receive asylum, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of France requires that he be at least ten years old, Sota claims.

France recognized the right of Russians who refused to fight in Ukraine to political asylum on July 20, 2023. According to the court’s ruling, asylum in France can be granted to Russians who left the country under threat of mobilization, or those mobilized who refused to fight and deserted from the army. Documentary evidence is required to confirm the status.

However, there are no requirements in the resolution for “opposition experience” or “public condemnation of the Russian invasion” – “Sota” calls them “secret”.

According to Zyganshin, in September 2022 he was in the process of being fired, but with the start of mobilization he was released for service and ordered to train new recruits, and then go to war with them. Documents about this emu were not shown, the officer notes.

Immediately after that, Zyganshin left for Kazakhstan. A month later, a criminal case was opened against him under the article about leaving a unit, and in November he was declared a national wanted man. According to Zyganshin, he “hoped very much for France” and even started learning French. After refusing to take shelter, he has no intention of surrendering and will continue to call on his colleagues to lay down their arms, Sota quotes him.