Russians are fleeing to Armenia in protest against the war in Ukraine

Many who made the selection to flee have decamped to this metropolis of about 1 million, the place flights are low-cost and the price of dwelling is comparatively low in contrast with capitals in close by nations. A rising sense of limbo has set in. They spoke to The Washington Submit in regards to the whiplash of their exit, the ache of leaving family members behind and the problem of squaring their nationwide id with Russia’s invasion.

35, vegan restaurateur and activist

I’m Ukrainian. My father was born there. Throughout the 22 years of Putin’s regime, I stayed in Russia anyway and tried to do one thing to alter the system. However bombing Kyiv was a degree of no return for me. I don’t need this [Russian] passport anymore.

My mother and father in Russia have been supportive of my determination to go away. “Go away,” they stated.

“First they are going to strangle Ukrainians there, after which they are going to strangle Ukrainians right here,” my mom stated.

For me, there’s a distinction between “Russian” as an idea of ethnic id and “Russian” as a citizen of the nation. The authorities in Russia are attempting to impose organic nationalism. I’m a Russian, I used to be born in Russia, and for me, it’s extra like civil nationalism. A Russian is an ethnic Ukrainian, it’s an ethnic Georgian, an ethnic Russian, a Belarusian, a Latvian, and so forth. However we’re all underneath the umbrella of Russian citizenship.

I’ve been going to protests since I used to be 18. I had no illusions in regards to the political regime in Russia, and there’s a danger of going to jail for my convictions and leaving my kids in an orphanage.

We selected Armenia as a result of it had the most affordable tickets and our mates are right here. Additionally for the consolation of our kids, there are lots of people right here who knew Russian.

My mother and father have totally different positions on us coming right here. My dad trusts the federal government. My mother is extra hesitant. We sat up all night time together with her, and I attempted to calmly clarify to her my place and full rejection of this conflict.

My grandfather was born in Ukraine, however there has at all times been a tacit rejection of this reality within the household. Earlier than Feb. 24, I used my father’s final identify. However now I’ve switched to a Ukrainian final identify.

31, kids’s literary critic

I’m not prepared to just accept that we left for good. I believed I may affect individuals with my actions: opinions of recent kids’s books, exhibitions about reminiscence and the way the twentieth century modified individuals’s consciousness in Russia. To instantly understand that this was going nowhere was terribly exhausting for me.

My husband wished to purchase tickets and go away shortly. Our youngsters made “No to conflict” posters in school and went to shout within the streets of Moscow. I understood I needed to shut them up instantly, as a result of passersby have been already trying round. And that was motive for me to go away.

I don’t need to make any plans now, however I want to return. We’ve finished our greatest to verify our kids have an image of the world the place there are totally different individuals, totally different nationalities, totally different gender identities. Now that’s damaged for them, as a result of so lots of these individuals have fled Russia.

32, trustee of the Prodvizhenie charitable basis

We mentioned it many occasions: If the conflict begins, we would depart instantly. I can’t be in a rustic that’s now an aggressor. On Feb. 24 I informed my husband to promote the whole lot we’ve, as a result of we don’t have a lot of a security web. We’ve spent the final three years manufacturing light-weight and cozy wheelchairs for youngsters and adults. We had invested the whole lot into this charitable basis.

I needed to a face a selection: keep in Russia and proceed to be an activist or go away. I in all probability would have chosen the primary choice if I didn’t have kids. I actually ask myself, may I’ve have finished the rest? However I did the whole lot I may. I went to protests till the final day. I delivered meals to those that have been arrested. So I don’t have emotions of guilt. I believe the blame is at all times within the arms of those that do that evil.

I don’t see any future for myself in Russia — some very highly effective modifications must occur and I’m unsure they will occur within the subsequent 10 years. If there have been democracy, that will be sufficient to return and rebuild the whole lot.

To be Russian means to begin with not being afraid to talk the reality. It’s to dwell by conscience and fact. Throughout the first days of the conflict, I used to be not ready to do something. I labored for a pro-government media outlet and we needed to name the conflict a “navy operation.” I used to be sickened.

My fiancee was very afraid that I might be drafted. They have been mailing out summonses to return to the enlistment workplace that had no authorized foundation in any way. It was so scary. It’s scary to be despatched to a conflict, however even scarier to be despatched to 1 you don’t need to be in.

I’ve quite a lot of kin and mates in Ukraine. And you understand the scariest factor? My grandfather is Ukrainian however labored all his life at a missile plant in Dubna, Russia. These missiles may now bomb Ukraine.

I’ve plans to marry my fiancee and go to Spain, to start out a brand new life there from scratch. I don’t need to return to Russia. You may’t go to a restaurant along with your girlfriend in Moscow after which go residence whereas individuals are being killed in Ukraine. I don’t assume it’s proper to affiliate your self with that nation at this level.

On Feb. 24 my mates and I went to the primary sq. in Voronezh. There have been already quite a lot of police and some individuals fearfully huddled collectively on the sides. Everybody was afraid of being arrested. I then realized there could be no large protests in Russia. I made a decision to pack a suitcase. The concern was very robust, however I used to be considering principally of my mates in Kyiv, sheltering within the subway.

For about 10 years, I’ve been making political artwork. Now I believe it’s not possible to remain in Russia and proceed to take dangers. I may go to jail for an extended interval only for some antiwar photos.

My mom, who’s retired, is in Russia. It’s unclear how I might help her now, as all financial institution playing cards and Visa and Mastercard don’t work. There’s no buckwheat and sugar in her retailer close by, and the costs have gone up. However she helps me. I need to deliver her to Armenia.

I don’t assume within the subsequent yr or two Russia can be place to dwell, even when one thing occurs to Putin now and the conflict in Ukraine stops in the present day. The one approach I might return is that if the media turns into impartial of the federal government, which appears fantastical.

Mellen reported from Washington.