Russians Who Fled Ukraine War Seek Armenian Citizenship as Conflict Drags On

YEREVAN, Armenia — A rising variety of Russians who fled overseas due to the Ukraine struggle are in search of Armenian citizenship because the combating drags on and it seems more and more unlikely they may be capable of return dwelling anytime quickly. 

Muscovite Igor Plekhanov, 45, was certainly one of tens of hundreds of Russians who relocated to Armenia initially of the Ukraine struggle in February. He utilized for citizenship final month.

“I assumed that my go to can be momentary; nonetheless, as time handed, I noticed that I’ll stay in Armenia for a very long time,” mentioned Plekhanov, who hopes acquiring an Armenian passport will make it simpler for him to arrange a enterprise within the nation.

Whereas lots of the anti-war Russians who flooded into this South Caucasus nation initially of the invasion — and once more in late September when the Kremlin introduced a “partial” mobilization — have since moved on to different nations, tens of hundreds determined to remain. 

Those who have remained have arrange companies and media retailers, placed on cultural occasions, established new colleges, and opened bars and eating places — and appear more and more prone to keep for the long run. 

A complete of 17,372 folks utilized for Armenian citizenship within the first 9 months of this 12 months, greater than double the roughly 8,000 who utilized in the entire of 2021, based on knowledge supplied by the Armenian police to The Moscow Instances. 

Ilya Devedzhian, 39, who moved to Yerevan from Moscow in March, utilized for Armenian citizenship quickly after his arrival and has already acquired his passport. 

“The final time I used to be in Yerevan was in November. Again then I considered getting citizenship and establishing a enterprise in Armenia. [But] the struggle… accelerated my plans,” mentioned Devedzhian, who opened a cafe in central Yerevan this summer season. 

Whereas anybody can apply for Armenian citizenship if they’ve been dwelling within the nation for no less than three years and have an excellent information of Armenian, many of the candidates to date, like Devedzhian and Plekhanov, have submitted purposes primarily based on their Armenian heritage.

“My grandfather is Armenian. That’s what helped to get citizenship rapidly. I utilized for citizenship in June, and I’m already a citizen of Armenia,” mentioned Devedzhian. 

Whereas it’s unclear precisely what number of Russians have settled in Armenia because the invasion of Ukraine, the quantity is prone to run to the tens of hundreds — an enormous inflow for this small, landlocked nation of about 3 million folks. 

A complete of 372,086 Russian residents arrived in Armenia within the first six months of this 12 months alone, based on the Armenian Migration Service — greater than double the identical interval of final 12 months, when there have been simply 159,466. 

With the announcement of “partial” mobilization in September, the numbers within the second half of the 12 months are anticipated to be even increased. 

Different standard locations for Russians fleeing overseas because the begin of the battle have additionally seen a spike in citizenship purposes. Within the Central Asian state of Kyrgyzstan, for instance, purposes for Kyrgyz passports from Russian residents had been up greater than fivefold within the first 9 months of the 12 months, in accordance to officers. 

In lots of instances, as with Devedzhian and Plekhanov, the motivations of Russians in search of citizenship in Armenia are linked with their enterprise plans. 

“I’ve enterprise objectives associated to Armenia, however there are a variety of paperwork points… that is why I made a decision to get citizenship,” mentioned Plekhanov.

Nevertheless, others are apparently in search of extra long-term stability — and even methods to keep away from steep condominium rental costs, which have skyrocketed within the wake of the Russian inflow.

“I’ve been serious about getting citizenship for 2 months,” mentioned a 30-year-old Russian girl who requested anonymity to talk freely. “The thought got here to my thoughts after I realized that it’s extra advantageous to purchase an condominium with a mortgage in Armenia than to lease… It’s a must to pay no less than $1,000 [per month to rent] probably the most reasonably priced home, whereas you should purchase the identical home and pay the financial institution much less cash every month.” 

Whereas the mass arrival of Russians has precipitated issues for Armenia, together with contributing to inflation and pricing out many locals from metropolis facilities, it has additionally sparked one thing of an financial growth. Armenia’s Central Financial institution final month raised its prediction for this 12 months’s financial progress within the nation from 1.6% to 13%. 

And there are some indicators that the Armenian authorities are taking steps to encourage Russians to place down roots. 

The Armenian police pledged earlier this 12 months to scale back the time taken to course of citizenship purposes from six months to 90 days. And the federal government is contemplating laws that may enable those that make investments $150,000 into the Armenian financial system to use for citizenship. 

“I believe that there might be individuals who wish to make investments that a lot. I do know individuals who purpose to determine a college and different such establishments,” mentioned Plekhanov.

However the demand can also be attracting fraudsters, with the 30-year-old Russian girl admitting to have been tricked by one rip-off. 

“An acquaintance of mine who moved to Yerevan at about the identical time as me instructed me that there’s a regulation below which you’ll be able to pay $5,000 and get accelerated citizenship,” mentioned the girl. “I gave him 10% of the cash he was imagined to pay. However he took the cash and disappeared.”

And Armenian citizenship not solely makes life simpler for these Russians who’ve made the nation their dwelling — it comes with sure obligations.

Particularly, fighting-age male Armenian residents might be drafted in case of a struggle with neighboring Azerbaijan. Simmering tensions between the 2 nations recurrently escalate into violence and Armenia declared a basic mobilization two years in the past throughout a bloody, month-long struggle over the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. 

​​Devedzhian mentioned he’s “properly conscious” that he might be referred to as as much as serve within the Armenian navy — however mentioned that there was a giant distinction between the battle between Armenia and Azerbaijan and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

“I got here to Armenia from Moscow as a result of I fled the struggle. Nevertheless, [this war] …  was pressured on us,” he mentioned. “I didn’t wish to go and combat in that struggle. However within the case of Armenia, it’s totally different. Right here, it’s a defensive struggle.”