Russia has granted citizenship to 3,344 foreign nationals since start of year for fighting against Ukraine

I have done everything to save the lives of Russian soldiers and ensure some kind of future for Russians in Ukraine,

Martindale said

Here is my passport. It went through the war with me,

the 33-year-old said in English to Russian media, holding up what appeared to be well-used U.S. documents including a birth certificate

I believe that process is already in motion."

When asked if he would seek asylum in Russia, he replied

Since the start of this year…3,344 foreign citizens have acquired citizenship on similar grounds,

said Volk

I’ve wanted to go to Russia for a long time, I realized that this is the moment I’ve been waiting for,

he was quoted as saying

My name is Daniel Martindale,

he told a press conference, state media reported

I understand the concerns of Western countries and why they do not hand out travel documents to many deserters, as they could include Russian secret service agents or war criminals,

said Alexander

His involvement in the [Russian] invasion [of Ukraine] was not up to him,

said CIT's Alshansky,

We checked the background of all six deserters,

Alexei Alshansky of the Conflict Intelligence Team (CIT), an independent investigative organization originally from Russia, told DW

At some point, we contacted human rights activists in the EU and then the advocacy work began, lasting a year,

said Alshansky

Russian civil society is not inclined to help deserters,

said Alshansky

Deserters are not traitors, and desertion is not a crime, because there is no other way out of this situation,

said Alexander

There was no order to attack Ukraine, there were no instructions, we simply crossed the Ukrainian border and only then did we realize what was going on,

Alexander recalled

I knew that it would be difficult to get protection in Kazakhstan, as Kazakhstan is still dependent on Russia to a certain extent,

Alexander says

He should therefore be granted humanitarian protection, and it is a great fortune he has received it,

said Alshansky

Either my own people would have shot me, or I would have been arrested at the border. I needed a legal way to get back to Russia,

he said

When someone attends an anti-war demonstration holding a 'no to war' placard and then spends several days behind bars as a result, they are considered a hero,

he said

It was clear to me I would either be jailed or sent back to the front line, unless I fled Russia,

he said

I knew that I couldn't apply for asylum there, and that I could only do so on the territory of the country,

he said

We were given permission to enter France because we actively oppose the war, not because we were deserters,

he said