Critics emigrate – Russian emigrants: “branded as traitors”

A Russian exile now living in Austria spoke to krone.at – he wishes to remain anonymous. He is in contact with many friends and acquaintances in Moscow. Most are Western-oriented and, like him, reject Putin’s “special operation”. Well-off, they are not as hard hit by the economic sanctions of the West. In the coming months, however, the situation will deteriorate and the effects of the sanctions will really be felt, he fears. “The worst is sure to come”, the man is convinced.

“We don’t know what’s going on”
But poorer Russians are already being hit hard by the sanctions – the ruble inflation that has been caused has made staples such as onions and sugar, baby food and medicines much more expensive. The main reason for the sanctions is unknown to the majority of the population, who only watch the state television channels with government propaganda. “A lot of people tell me, ‘We don’t know what’s going on,'” says the exiled Russian of acquaintances who, in his opinion, live in an “information vacuum.” “I don’t know if they are serious. They may also shrink from recognizing that war is real.”

Many would treat the current recession as they would any other economic crisis — several of which have occurred in the past 30 years alone. They don’t ask why – not yet. “In the coming months we will see if some change their minds and try to see what is causing the crisis,” said the Russian, who now lives in Austria but still has a lot of contact with colleagues in his home country.

Will the death penalty be reintroduced?
Fearing Putin, many do not want to speak out – or do so only indirectly: many who have lived under censorship under the Soviet regime know how to communicate. But they are also afraid to say something. The large waves of protest in Russia’s major cities have died down, the police crack down on protesters and anyone who even touches or looks at them suspiciously is arrested. The tone of the elite is also sharpening: only recently Dmitry Medvedev – ex-president and now deputy secretary of the Russian Security Council – did not rule out the possibility of reintroducing the death penalty. After leaving the Council of Europe, there is no longer any obligation to suspend the sentence, Medvedev explained.

Hundreds of thousands are leaving the country because of these circumstances. The new online medium OK Russians, founded by Russian exiles themselves, estimates that at least 300,000 people have fled their country since the war of aggression against Ukraine began. The platform asked 2,067 people about the reasons for emigrating. One of the main reasons is the rejection of Russian aggression – many therefore want nothing to do with today’s Russia under Putin. Fear of persecution or oppression is also a driving force behind emigration. Many see no future in their country in principle or have lost their jobs because their employers left the Russian Federation because of the sanctions.

IT professionals leave the country
It is mainly those who can afford to leave the country. About 70,000 IT specialists left Russia in February and March. The Russian IT industry association RAEC expects another massive emigration of 100,000 specialists in April. They are urgently needed specialists in many places. Popular destinations are Armenia and Georgia, many also end up in Istanbul.

Numerous celebrities have also left Russia, some without a word, such as the singer Alla Pugacheva, who was very popular in the Soviet era. Others spoke out publicly against the war, such as the rock musician Boris Grebenshchikov or the singer Zemfira. Russian hip-hopper Oxxxymiron even canceled a number of concerts that were already fully booked because of the war against Ukraine, but instead announced benefit concerts for Ukrainian refugees under the slogan “Russians against the war”. large community in exile -Russians took place.

“Betrayal to one’s own people”
The emigrant network abroad. The Russian with whom krone.at spoke also makes contact with compatriots in Austria and elsewhere. “Many are now disoriented, knowing they can’t go back for fear of being branded traitors,” he says. In an article published by the Russian state agency Ria Novosti, columnist Pyotr Akopov accused the “elite” who would emigrate from “betraying their own people”, echoing Putin’s stance. He called emigration a “natural and necessary process of self-purification of our society”.

Russian stars who have left their country are pilloried as ‘activists’. In mid-March, Andrei Krasov, deputy head of the State Duma’s Defense Committee, called for celebrities who have left Russia not to be allowed to return. “It turned out that they are not citizens of our country,” he explained on his Telegram channel. Russia, “gathering around Vladimir Putin”, should say no to these “activists”, according to Krasov. The emigrants “failed the test for their homeland,” wrote the Duma deputy.

Russian flag without blood
Abroad, the Russians try to help each other – for many, leaving the country has eaten their savings, also because of the miserable exchange rate of the ruble, “OK Russians” reports. There is also the fear of being deported again. But efforts are also being made to help Ukrainian refugees, the main victims of the Russian aggression policy. Many Russian emigrants feel collectively guilty about the war. In many cities exiled Russians protested loudly against the invasion. They wave a new flag, designed by opposition forces abroad: white-blue-white, like the Russian flag, only the red color is missing – no connection with blood, war or the Soviet past. “It should be the sign of a new Russia – maybe someday,” said a Russian exile.