The Intellectual Exodus from Russia: Escaping Putin

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The Intellectual Exodus from Russia
Escaping Putin

An Essay by Mikhail Viktorovich Zygar
Russia is currently experiencing the most invisible exodus in history – the mass flight of journalists, artists and programmers. They are part of a long tradition of intellectuals who have been forced to flee from Moscow's heavy hand.


(Der Spiegel) It’s not known how many people have left Russia in the last two weeks, but there is no doubt: We are talking about hundreds of thousands of people. It is perhaps the least visible exodus in history. As the entire world focuses on the war in Ukraine with horror, a mass exodus of Russian journalists, artists, actors and programmers has begun.

According to rough estimates by the Georgian authorities, around 20,000 to 25,000 Russians have made their way to Tbilisi since the start of the war.

Tbilisi has always been a popular city among Russians for its delicious food, good wine and hospitable people. But now there are too many Russians. The influx of immigrants is worrying many in the country. Some residents of Tbilisi have begun collecting signatures for a petition to introduce visa requirements for Russian citizens.

And the behavior of the authorities has been contradictory: On the one hand, Georgia has submitted an official application for European Union membership. On the other, though, at least two famous Russian journalists who have protested against the war in Ukraine and have long criticized Putin were turned away when they tried to enter the country. Georgia is where most of the recent wave of Russian emigrants have ended up, and many of them realize that this is far from the safest place for them.

The departure of the Russian middle class from the country, which began on Sunday, Feb. 27, has become increasingly infused by panic. That was the day most European countries closed their airspace to Russian aircraft. Many Russians thought that the borders would soon be sealed and that there would be no way out. ................(more)

https://www.spiegel.de/international/world/the-opposition-flee-from-russia-they-leave-knowing-they-are-cursed-everywhere-a-cceca3e5-a922-495d-a922-2b1cc5a228c4