For over two months, the departure hall at an airport in South Korea has been home to Vladimir Maraktayev (23) from Eastern Siberia. Here he and four other Russians are in a deadlocked situation.
If they go home, forced mobilization or prison awaits.
Linguistics student Maraktayev’s life was turned upside down on September 24. Three days earlier, Vladimir Putin had announced a partial mobilization for the war in Ukraine. Now Maraktayev suddenly stood with summons papers for war in his hands.
Read the letter over and over again
– I don’t remember what I was thinking. I just stared blankly at this paper that I found in the mailbox, says Maraktayev in a video interview with Reuters.
– I did not immediately understand the meaning of it, or why I had received it. I read it over and over for five minutes, and when I realized what it was about, I ran up to my apartment, packed some clothes, and ran out as fast as I could, he says.
Like many other Russian men, he fled the country. He crossed the border into neighboring Mongolia. From there he traveled on to the Philippines, and then to South Korea, where he arrived on 12 November.
Asylum application rejected
He considers South Korea one of the most stable democracies in Asia, and sought asylum when he arrived. But the application has been refused. Fleeing from conscription for military service is not reason enough to be granted refugee status.
After six days at the immigration center, he was returned to Incheon International Airport.
He is still there.
– My life is like taken out of the movie “Groundhog Day”, says Maraktayev.
AIRPORT LIFE: Five Russian men are currently staying at Incheon International Airport in South Korea without the possibility of leaving. Photo: Reuters
He says the days consist of walking around the airport lounge. He tries to read books and learn Korean.
– Basically, I do nothing, he says.
He has appealed the decision, which means South Korea cannot deport him. He must wait at the terminal until the appeal has been processed.
Five in the same situation
Maraktayev is one of five Russian men who are in the same situation at this airport. Everyone is waiting for their asylum applications to be processed.
The five have been allocated blankets and sleep in a small room adjacent to the departure hall. They have access to a toilet and shower, but hot water is limited.
They are also given food rations by the Korean authorities, which is absolutely necessary because Russian bank cards no longer work abroad.
– For a long time I only had the cash I brought with me from home. On New Year’s Eve I bought myself a coffee, because I had to treat myself to something to mark the new year in one way or another, he says.
Two evils
Despite the uncertain and monotonous existence at the airport, he is clear that he would rather be there than go back to Russia.
– Sometimes the choice is between two evils: to flee or to be sent somewhere to kill others, or to die yourself, he says.
He has no doubt that he will be apprehended at the border if he travels back to Russia.
– The police will hand me over to the military, and the military will send me to the front in Ukraine, he says.
ON WAIT: The departure boards show flights out of the airport at all times. However, Maraktayev cannot travel anywhere.
– Running away from the same mad man
– The difference between me and the Ukrainians is perhaps that I would have had a house to return to if the war ends now. But the crux of the matter is that we are running away from the same old, crazy man who wants to make people’s lives miserable, he says, referring to President Vladimir Putin.
He says that he recently heard that an old schoolmate had been killed in Ukraine this autumn.
– The family does not even know if they will get his body home. Such a situation is not something I would wish on my worst enemy, he says.
