In the early months of Russia’s war in Ukraine, the European Union extended unprecedented support to Russians opposing the war. Several countries offered humanitarian visas, asylum to political exiles, and even protection for deserters fleeing the front.
Today, however, shifting political winds and a surge in anti-migrant sentiment are reshaping that landscape. As the BBC’s Russian Service reports, opportunities for anti-war Russians to find refuge in the EU are narrowing, and humanitarian pathways are under pressure.
Germany: from pioneer to freeze
Germany was once a key EU state offering humanitarian visas to Russians under an individual program that required proof of persecution and links with German organizations. Between 2022 and 2025, about 2,600 Russians and 400 Belarusians entered through this route.
That changed after the 2025 elections, when the conservative CDU/CSU, led by Friedrich Merz, came to power. The new government froze all humanitarian programs, including the individual scheme once seen as a lifeline. In May 2025, more than 300 applications were left in limbo.
Although Berlin announced a partial reopening of the program in August, the accelerated procedure was scrapped, and only “special individual cases” are now considered—without clear criteria. Human rights groups say the program is technically open but functionally closed.
France: support endures, with stricter conditions
France continues to issue humanitarian visas to activists, scholars, cultural figures, and LGBT Russians, though the process has become more demanding. Since 2024, applicants have been required to demonstrate long-term activism and a clear record of opposition.
Unlike in Germany, French visas do not require ties to local organizations, and Paris has even granted entry documents to eight Russian deserters since 2022. Officials insist the program will remain in place.
But hurdles remain: France has fewer consulates, meaning Russians in countries like Kyrgyzstan cannot apply locally and must travel to places like Kazakhstan. For fugitives facing criminal charges in Russia, this can be impossible.
Unlike German visas, French humanitarian permits do not come with financial aid or housing benefits, leaving new arrivals largely self-reliant.
Croatia: a risky gateway to the EU
Croatia has emerged as a key stop on the “Balkan route” for Russian refugees, many of whom apply for asylum at the Bosnian border before trying to move onward to Germany or France.
In practice, however, Croatia rarely grants protection. In 2023, out of 68,000 asylum requests, only 100 were approved. Deserters are often treated as national security threats and placed in detention centers. Some report being pressured to withdraw their applications, while others face deportation even with evidence of persecution.
Under the EU’s Dublin Regulation, asylum-seekers entering the bloc via Croatia can be deported back there from other EU states, complicating prospects for those hoping to resettle elsewhere.
Other Eastern EU states
- Poland issues humanitarian visas mostly to human rights defenders.
- Czechia and Lithuania have accepted select groups from civil society.
- Latvia has focused on Russian independent journalists.
But none of these countries operate large-scale programs.
Alternatives beyond asylum
With humanitarian pathways narrowing, many Russians turn to other visas:
- Freelance visas
- Study visas
- Work permits
Yet these do not offer political protection. One deserter who found a programming job in Germany lost his work visa when the employer went bankrupt and was forced to apply for asylum instead.
United States and Canada: fewer options
The U.S. has tightened entry under Donald Trump’s second term, with more rejections and deportations—even for Russians facing criminal cases. High-profile opposition figures such as Yulia Navalnaya, Ilya Yashin, and Vladimir Kara-Murza have appealed to Canada to establish a dedicated program for anti-war Russians.
A harder road ahead
Rights groups warn that Europe’s once-open stance is giving way to stricter policies, fueled by the rise of right-wing parties, anti-migrant rhetoric, and budget reallocations toward defense.
Where once unknown Russians could find lifelines through humanitarian programs, access is increasingly limited to well-known activists and opposition leaders. For many others, the path to safety in Europe is narrowing.
