Alaska. File photoVLADIVOSTOK, Oct 7 Chukotka residents detained in Alaska illegally crossed the border with the United States not to avoid partial mobilization, but to evade responsibility for a number of illegal actions in Russia, an informed source told RIA Novosti .Earlier it became known about the detention of two Russians on the island of St. Lawrence, 80 kilometers from Chukotka, they are in custody in Anchorage. At the same time, a number of publications suggested that the men could be trying to hide from partial mobilization.
"They set sail (by boat) on purpose. They did not run away from conscription, but for another reason — in order to evade responsibility for certain actions on the territory of the Russian Federation — they decided to hide", the source said.
He also specified that one of the detainees was under investigation for possession drugs, both men born in 1971 and 1978 had financial problems that they hoped to solve in the United States. According to the agency’s interlocutor, Russians who usually violated the border with the United States are returned to their homeland, but now the States can explain their escape with political motives. «Although they are not included in the category of persons subject to mobilization,» the source said. The Russian Embassy in the United States said earlier that the diplomats were aware of the incident and planned to talk to the detainees by phone. The media, citing US State Senator Lisa Markowski, reported that the Russians had asked for asylum. The Ministry of Homeland Security has not yet responded to a request from RIA Novosti about the status of the detainees and what awaits them. In Russia, a partial mobilization has been announced by presidential decree since September 21. On October 4, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced that more than 200,000 of the 300,000 people planned to be drafted have already arrived in the Armed Forces. supported the idea of a visa ban for all Russians