By Becky Bohrer | Related Press
JUNEAU, Alaska — Two Russians who mentioned they fled the nation to keep away from obligatory navy service have requested asylum within the U.S. after touchdown in a small boat on a distant Alaska island within the Bering Sea, Alaska U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s workplace mentioned Thursday.
Karina Borger, a Murkowski spokesperson, by e mail mentioned the workplace has been in communication with the U.S. Coast Guard and Customs and Border Safety and that “the Russian nationals reported that they fled one of many coastal communities on the east coast of Russia to keep away from obligatory navy service.”
Spokespersons with the Coast Guard and Customs and Border Safety referred a reporter’s inquiries to the U.S. Division of Homeland Safety public affairs workplace, which offered little data Thursday. The workplace, in an announcement, mentioned the folks “had been transported to Anchorage for inspection, which features a screening and vetting course of, after which subsequently processed in accordance with relevant U.S. immigration legal guidelines underneath the Immigration and Nationality Act.”
The company mentioned the 2 Russians arrived Tuesday on a small boat. It didn't present particulars on the place they got here from, their journey or the asylum request. It was not instantly clear what sort of boat they had been on.
Hundreds of Russian males have fled since President Vladimir Putin introduced a mobilization to bolster Russian forces in Ukraine. Whereas Putin mentioned the transfer was aimed toward calling up about 300,000 males with previous navy service, many Russians concern will probably be broader.
Alaska’s senators, Republicans Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, on Thursday mentioned the 2 Russians landed at a seashore close to the city of Gambell, an remoted Alaska Native neighborhood of about 600 folks on St. Lawrence Island. Sullivan mentioned he was alerted to the matter by a “senior neighborhood chief from the Bering Strait area” on Tuesday morning.
Gambell is about 200 miles (320 kilometers) southwest of the western Alaska hub neighborhood of Nome and about 36 miles (58 kilometers) from the Chukotka Peninsula, Siberia, in keeping with a neighborhood profile on a state web site.
An individual who responded to an e mail deal with listed for Gambell directed inquiries to federal authorities.
Sullivan, in an announcement, mentioned he has inspired federal authorities to have a plan in place in case “extra Russians flee to Bering Strait communities in Alaska.”
“This incident makes two issues clear: First, the Russian folks don’t need to battle Putin’s struggle of aggression towards Ukraine,” Sullivan mentioned. “Second, given Alaska’s proximity to Russia, our state has a significant position to play in securing America’s nationwide safety.”
Murkowski mentioned the state of affairs underscored “the necessity for a stronger safety posture in America’s Arctic.”
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy on Wednesday, as preliminary particulars of the state of affairs had been rising, mentioned he didn't anticipate a continuous stream or “flotilla” of individuals traversing the identical route. He additionally warned that journey within the area might be harmful as a fall storm packing robust winds was anticipated.
It's seemingly uncommon for somebody to take this path to attempt to get into the U.S.
U.S. authorities in August stopped Russians with out authorized standing 42 occasions who tried to enter the U.S. from Canada. That was up from 15 occasions in July and 9 occasions in August 2021.
Russians extra generally attempt to enter the U.S. by Mexico, which doesn't require visas. Russians usually fly from Moscow to Cancun or Mexico Metropolis, getting into Mexico as vacationers earlier than getting a connecting a flight to the U.S. border. Earlier this yr, U.S. authorities contended with a spate of Russians who hoped to assert asylum in the event that they reached an inspection sales space at an official crossing.
Some hint the spike to earlier than Russia invaded Ukraine, attributing it to the imprisonment of Russian opposition chief Alexei Navalny final yr.
Related Press reporters Manuel Valdes in Seattle and Elliot Spagat in San Diego contributed to this report.