The Czech government supports refugees from Ukraine, but not draft evaders from the Ukrainian army. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said this, novinky.cz quoted him as saying.
“The Czech Republic has a long history of supporting and welcoming refugees from Ukraine on its territory, but not those who try to evade the legally established conscription obligation,” Jan Lipavsky said.
According to the minister, the Czech Republic has limited possibilities to influence the process of returning Ukrainians of conscription age to their home country.
According to novinky.cz, there are 94,643 men aged 18 to 65 among Ukrainian citizens staying in the country with temporary protection status. The lawyers interviewed by the portal claim that the current Czech legislation does not provide for the possibility of involuntary return of conscripts to Ukraine.
At the same time, a representative of the Czech police department for foreigners said that every Ukrainian with temporary protection in the country is obliged to present a valid passport with a temporary protection mark. In case of absence of the stamp, he will face a fine of up to 5,000 kroons (200 euros) and deportation to Ukraine.
Earlier, Polish Defence Minister Vladyslav Kosyniak-Kamysh said that his country was ready to assist Ukraine in returning male citizens of conscription age to participate in combat operations. The Lithuanian government plans to follow Poland’s example and take measures to return men of conscription age who left the country to Ukraine, the Baltic republic’s defence minister, Laurynas Kasčiūnas, has said.
