BERLIN: Germany’s embassies in countries neighbouring Russia have seen a surge in visa enquiries from Russian citizens since partial mobilisation for the war in Ukraine began in their home country, a source from the German foreign ministry said on Friday.

“We can confirm a sharp increase in the number of enquiries sent to our foreign missions in the region, particularly by e-mail and telephone,” the source said.

In some cases, people were going to the embassies in person. News magazine Der Spiegel previously reported that German missions in Armenia, Kaza­khstan, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Belarus had registered thousands of requests for entry permits to Germany since President Vladimir Putin ordered the partial mobilisation on Sept 21.

An exact figure was not given because it had become impossible to process the requests within set deadlines, the report said, adding that appointments for hearings were no longer being handed out. The ministry is said to be considering increasing its staff in the five capitals.

The German embassy in the Georgian capital Tbilisi had registered more than 300 visa applications from Rus­sian citizens since partial mobilisation began last week.

Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2022