No more German visas for Kremlin critics fleeing Russia
Hundreds of Russians and Belarusians fleeing political persecution are now facing uncertainty after Germany suspended its humanitarian visa program at the end of July. Many of them, whose applications had been previously approved, are stranded in unsafe countries where they face the risk of extradition or even abduction. The "Kovshig" (The Ark) project estimates that around 300 people have been affected by this suspension.
The "Kovshig" project was established in 2022 to support Russians opposing the war in Ukraine who face repression in their country. Among them is Alexei Moskalyev, whose daughter Masha became an international focus after she painted an anti-war picture at school in 2022. The painting, which depicted Russian missiles targeting Ukraine, prompted police intervention, and Masha was temporarily sent to an orphanage, while her father was sentenced to prison for "discrediting the army." After spending two years in prison, Moskalyev fled Russia for fear of new arrest. His application for a German visa was approved, but it was not issued due to new restrictions.
Another case is that of Anton K., a former activist and journalist who worked with media outlets classified by Russian authorities as "foreign agents". Anton participated in anti-Kremlin protests and was arrested several times. He now lives in one of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries, but he faces the risk of extradition or abduction at any time. Like Moskalev, Anton applied for a German humanitarian visa, and the application was nearly complete before the suspension caused it to be halted. His passport is still held at the embassy.
Lawyer Anastasia Borakova, head of the "Kovshig" project, warns that Kremlin opponents are not safe in many former Soviet Union countries, where Russia can pressure local governments. She points to cases of attempted kidnappings, some of which have been successful, with victims ending up in Russian prisons. She confirms that the German humanitarian visa program has already saved more than 2,600 people over the past three years, providing them with a safe haven away from torture, imprisonment, and political persecution.
For its part, the German Ministry of the Interior defended the suspension decision, pointing to the coalition government's commitment to restrict voluntary admission programs as part of a stricter immigration policy. The ministry stated that exceptions may be granted in urgent or special cases, but it did not specify what constitutes an urgent case. Borakova hopes that this leaves some room for flexibility, but the ambiguity remains. Meanwhile, human rights organizations indicate that more than 1,000 people are being held as political prisoners in Russia, while an estimated 700,000 people have fled the country since the beginning of the war in Ukraine.