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An estimated 25,000 Russians have fled the country to Georgia
Eugene Liamen puts clothes and boxes of food on a truck heading to Ukraine outside Georgia's parliament.
Liamin is one of 25,000 people who have fled Russia to Georgia after the invasion of Ukraine. Russians are struggling to find affordable housing in Georgia's major cities.
Many are seen wandering the streets of the capital, Tbilisi, with their suitcases and pets.
Liamine's coat is embroidered with blue and yellow ribbons. It is also the color of the Ukrainian flag. He was arrested during a protest rally in Russia the day after the invasion of Ukraine.
"I understood that the best way to take action against Putin's government is to leave Russia," said Liaman, a 23-year-old political science graduate. It is my responsibility to do everything possible to help the people of Ukraine. "
People leaving Russia are not limited to Georgia. The European Union, the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada have closed their airspace to Russia, so they are heading to places like Turkey, Central Asia and the South Caucasus where flights are not yet closed. Many have also moved to Armenia.
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More than 200,000 Russians have fled the country
A Russian economist estimates that some 200,000 people have fled the country since the start of the war.
The people of Belarus are following the same path. Belarusians are also seeking refuge in other countries, fed up with Western sanctions on Alexander Lukashenko's government for helping Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The effect has been that not only has airfare increased, but housing costs have risen in major cities such as Istanbul and the Armenian capital, Yerevan.
On the condition of anonymity, Anya said, "The one-way fare for the flight to Istanbul was equal to my husband's full month's salary."
Anya decided to leave Russia after a new treason law was passed in Russia. It carries a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison for those who support Ukraine, and Anya thinks she too could be targeted.
"The fear of closed borders, political coercion and forced military service is in our DNA," he said. I remember my grandmother telling us stories of how she lived in a climate of fear under Stalin. "
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Most people who leave the country are working in the technical field and can work in other areas.
A video game developer in a Tbilisi cafe told me that he and most of his acquaintances disagreed with Russia's policies and knew that any protests would now be severely suppressed.
"One way to protest, leave Russia"
Igor (pseudonym) said, "Now the only way to protest is to leave the country, take our money and skills with us. That's the decent thing to do, and it should end there. "
However, Igor is also planning to leave the Georgian capital because he does not feel well here.
There have been several reports of Airbnb owners refusing to provide housing to citizens of Russia and Belarus.
One of them said to a couple in Belarus, "I do not have Russians and Belarusians with me. You don't have time for vacation. Raise your voice against your corrupt governments. "
"They think we've run away from Russia just because Apple isn't working there," Igor said in a complaining tone. We are not running for our comfort, we have lost everything there, we are refugees. Putin's territorial politics ruined our lives. "
Newcomers arriving at Tbilisi Public Service Hall are registering for business or home.
Christina Nikita, an IT specialist in Minsk, Belarus, has registered as a businessman. This will allow her to open a bank account in Georgia.
Rally
, Image source GETTY IMAGES
, Photo caption
Nearly 30,000 Georgians listen to President Zelensky's speech during large demonstrations
"We have run away because we do not support our governments, we want to be safe here," she said. But we are being harassed only because of our citizenship. I have to hide the name of my country, I get nervous when people ask me where I am from.
As the war in Ukraine began, large pro-Ukrainian rallies were held in Tbilisi. A recent poll found that 87% of Georgians believe that Ukraine's war with Russia is like their own war.
But many Georgians do not like the large number of Russians coming to their country, since the Russian invasion of Georgia is less than 14 years old.
Some fear that President Putin may claim that Russian citizens abroad need protection. Under the pretext, Putin defended his decision to send troops to South Ossetia in 2008. Today, Russia still holds 20 percent of Georgia.
However, technology entrepreneur Leo Kalashnikov believes that the arrival of Russians will be beneficial for Georgia. Standing in line, they formed a group for immigrants on the telegram messaging app.
"There were 50 people in front of me and 50 behind me," he said. These people became the first subscribers to my group and now our group has about 4000 members.
All members talk in groups about where to live, how to open a bank account and whether it is safe to speak Russian in public.
Eugene Liamen is learning to speak and write Georgian.
"I am against Putin, I am against the war," he said. I still can't withdraw money from my Russian bank account, but the problem is no more than a concern for the people of Ukraine. "
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Eastern Europe
Ukraine-Russia conflict
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