Desperate Russians have been sailing yachts to South Korea to avoid getting conscripted into Vladimir Putin’s army, a politician from the Asian country has claimed.
More than 20 men have reached the country since late September – but only two have been granted entry, lawmaker An Ho-young revealed today.
The treacherous voyage through the North Pacific is likely to have taken the 23 Russians days on end.
A ferry running from Vladivostok to Donghae used to take 21 hours, according to Direct Ferries, with the distance from the Russian port to Busan some 583 nautical miles, according to Ports.com.
The Guardian reported that one crew’s trip through the Sea of Japan lasted roughly five days, since they had to avoid North Korean territorial waters.
There has been an exodus of conscription-age men from Russia since President Vladimir Putin ordered a partial mobilisation on September 21 – but this escape is likely to be among the most adventurous.
Most fled by road, rail and air to Europe and neighbouring former Soviet Union countries, like Georgia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan.
But Mr Ho-young claimed coast guard data showed four yachts had arrived in his country.
Some 21 of the passengers ‘were rejected because their purposes were unclear and they did not have sufficient documents,’ he added.
Two were granted entry, but it is unclear what will now happen to those who failed to get in.
Mr Ho-young added that two yachts left from the South Korean island of Ulleung and southeastern port of Pohang on Tuesday with 15 Russians aboard.
Two other yachts remained in Pohang, and one of them – left with just two Russians aboard – was planning to sail to Thailand, he claimed.
A justice ministry official said he did not have details about the yacht cases.
But he added that Russians are in general allowed to enter the country without a visa, assuming they obtain prior approval via South Korea’s electronic travel authorisation system.
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