The families of men conscripted to serve in Ukraine have posted a video message in which they call on Russian President Vladimir Putin to bring the soldiers home on The Way Home Telegram channel on Thursday.
Demanding a change in the law to establish a one-year limit to the time conscripts can be made to serve, the relatives said they were “against legalised slavery.”
“Both conscripts and professional soldiers should have the right to leave, either when their contract comes to an end, or after a year in the case of conscription,” said one of the speakers, criticising the official silence with which the group’s repeated requests for action have been met.
The video stressed that conscription was not voluntary, and that men face criminal liability if they refuse. The use of COVID restrictions as a pretext for refusing the group permission to protest was also criticised.
The grassroots Way Home movement has already attracted official displeasure by staging a flashmob with stickers on their cars saying, “Give me back my husband! I’ve had enough”.
