I dunno chat, as a Lithuanian (as if it matters) this feels like a bit of an over reach in a war on terror in US type of way. This isn't the only law that explicitly targets Russians/Belarussians as a security threat that has been enacted.

These people are often just nationals, citizens of their country and not automatically foreign agents. If they were here doing espionage, they would report back using encrypted channels on the internet which is much cheaper than traveling back and forth. If they were smuggling tools for terrorism like bombs, it's much easier to smuggle them over the border or even obtain them locally than having the foreign agent themselves smuggle.

I can't help but view it as discriminatory in a similar way how Muslim and Arab populations were treated post-9/11, it just doesn't make much sense unless I'm missing something.

[–] FundMECFSResearch@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

Same. I’m in western europe, I have a couple friends who are Russian and oppose the invasion.

The male ones haven’t gone back to see their family because they fear conscription.

Those who can go back to see family are super cautious and scared because they don’t wanna be sent to gulag.

It’d be a shame if they got another barrier to going home they had to worry about.

load more comments (14 replies)