SEOUL, October 30. /TASS/. Three Russian nationals who went to South Korea last October to dodge military mobilization have been living at Seoul’s Incheon International Airport ever since, unable to obtain asylum, the Yonhap news agency reports.

According to the media outlet, South Korea’s State Commission on Human Rights has pointed out that the Russians deserved "humanitarian assistance." In particular, the watchdog recommended that the airport authorities "expand the space for the Russians in the departure area and improve their food and accommodations situation." Human rights activists also asked the Justice Ministry to allocate a separate waiting room outside of the airport and draw up rules concerning food and medical care.

The Russians applied for asylum upon arrival at the airport but the South Korean authorities rejected their applications, saying that draft evasion did not constitute grounds for obtaining refugee status. They appealed the Justice Ministry’s decision and, in February, a South Korean court ruled that the decisions regarding two of the Russians be rescinded. In response, the government filed an appeal with a higher court, which resulted in the Russians being forced to remain at the airport, Yonhap said.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Russian embassy in Seoul told TASS that "neither the applicants nor the relevant South Korean government agencies contacted us regarding this matter."