Russians in Georgia: Attempts to restart in the neighboring country

More than 35,000 Russians have come to Georgia since the end of February. Many want to stay and build a new life there – for political reasons and to avoid sanctions.

The display of Polina’s cell phone lights up again and again: another text message, a new call. Word has gotten around that she helps those who want to get out of Russia. The young woman, who worked on the team of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, fled to the Georgian capital of Tbilisi a good year ago when the pressure became too great. “My house was searched three times. My technology was confiscated. Once the police held us for five or six hours without us being able to call our lawyer or anyone,” she says.

Polina, who doesn’t want her last name published, decided to go to Georgia to start a new life – in safety and in freedom. It’s not a big deal for her that she is now passing on her experiences: “What does helping mean? I coordinate, answer questions: where and how to rent an apartment, how much it costs, how to get here,” she says. “And if someone comes and doesn’t know where to go, I’ll put them on my sofa for a few days.”

Thousands of Russians want to stay

More than 35,000 Russians have arrived in Georgia since the start of the Russian military operation in Ukraine. On the one hand, because you don’t need a visa and no special registration papers in the first year. On the other hand, because the Caucasus country is still relatively easy to reach by plane despite all the sanctions.

For some, the country is just a way station. Others want to stay – the authorities estimate that there are around 14,000 at the moment. Among them are many young people who see no future in their homeland due to the war and the pressure on everyone and everything that is not in line. Because just one wrong word, a post on social media can have serious consequences. “It’s extremely difficult psychologically,” says a young Russian, shaking his head. “Like a nightmare that doesn’t end. And yet 65 percent of the people support all of this.”

Ukrainian national colors omnipresent

It seems all the more important for many to position themselves clearly in Tbilisi: with a blue and yellow ribbon in their hair, a sticker in the Ukrainian national colors or by deliberately avoiding the Russian language. “We want everyone to know that we Russians are also concerned about what’s happening in Ukraine, that it’s a tragedy for us too,” emphasizes a young couple who want to stay in Georgia for the time being.

People like her, or even those who are demonstrating next to the parliament for a free Belarus and a free Ukraine, are not meant when the walls of houses say: “Russians, go home,” suspects Sofija from St. Petersburg, who has lived in Tbilisi for three years educated. “We’re talking about the Russians, who didn’t leave the country for political reasons, but because of the sanctions.” This means everyone who wants to save their business and avoid inconveniences without taking into account the sensitivities of the host country. They forget that after the 2008 war, Russia quickly recognized two Georgian regions as independent.

“I have no more plans”

Neither Sofija nor her fellow student Maria find it a bad thing that they are occasionally asked to take a stand. Unlike her friends in Russia, Maria says she can at least be open about her attitude. Even if not with her parents, who are on the Kremlin line. And her plans? “I don’t have any more plans,” she says and laughs. “They’re all gone. I’ll stay in Georgia and continue studying.”

She currently sees no future in Russia, just like Polina, who has had her own experiences with the Russian security authorities – and who rules out ever returning to this system.