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Wigu90 t1_iu8f261 wrote

Reply to comment by [deleted] in Poland scraps easy access to labour market for Russians by hieronymusanonymous

I think the problem is that the majority of the Russians who leave do nothing to oppose Putin’s regime (for a variety of reasons including fear for their family, apathy, actually supporting Putin, and many more) and plan to go back to Russia and live there happily ever after when things blow over. Most of the draft dodgers who fled Russia are expected to return.

So you’re basically providing a safe hideout for Russian citizens to lie low whenever the war starts impacting them personally, which decreases social tensions in Russia and acts as a vent for Putin’s regime instead of destabilizing it.

Those are the arguments I’ve heard. I’m not really convinced by either side. It’s a complex situation.

EDIT: It seems to me that letting Russians in on the condition that they renounce their Russian citizenship would be a good solution in most cases.

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snap-erection t1_iubirz3 wrote

But really can you blame them? These are just ordinary people. Stuff like this doesn't target the oligarchs who can be individually sanctioned anyway. This whole thing would be the last straw that would push someone over the edge to finally leaving that hellhole of a country, and now they can't. Plus they're quite possibly people facing persecution in Russia as well, don't forget that.

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OnlyFlannyFlanFlans t1_iu9zbd8 wrote

Isn't this the case for most refugees? Most refugees love their country, but when their country becomes too dangerous to remain, they have no choice but to flee. I'm sure a lot of them would love to return to the place they grew up if it was safe. Why is Russia different to you?

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Wigu90 t1_iua5urw wrote

Well, because I'm on Ukraine's side in this conflict and I want Russia to lose the war. The idea of straight up refusing Russian people at the border doesn't sit right with me, but I can understand why they shouldn't be just let through no questions asked (the arguments I heard and listed in my previous comment). And we as "the West" need to put as much strain on Putin's regime as we can -- some of that strain, unfortunetely, will impact regular Russians.

Also, there is a clear difference between Ukrainian refugees, fleeing bombings and attacks on civilian infrastructure in their hometowns, and Russian dudes that are trying to avoid the mobilization. Draft evasion is considered a criminal offense in most countries, not just totalitarian hellholes. You wouldn't treat a burglar escaping their national law enforcement to a different country as a refugee, would you?

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werealwayswithyou t1_iu8frn9 wrote

I guess those could be true for people actually fleeing temporarily, but we're talking work permits here. This tells me some of those people are willing to stay.

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Wigu90 t1_iu8htsd wrote

"The simplified procedure is a fast-track process which allows foreign nationals to legalise their employment in Poland within seven days. It is now available to citizens of Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, the ministry added."

They’re only talking about the expedited procedure for getting a work permit, though, which implies that they’re targeting short term refugees.

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