Status: 04/11/2022 02:36 am
Four Russians and Ukrainians live in a holiday apartment in the Turkish holiday stronghold of Antalya. They have been working from there for a Moscow company for a good month and report how the war in Ukraine has changed their lives.
Diana, Sergej, Ilya and Roman are sitting on the balcony of their apartment in Antalya. The large holiday complex is still fairly empty, with just two guests lying by the pool below. It’s preseason. The turquoise Mediterranean Sea that you can see on the horizon is still relatively cool. Nevertheless, they were already inside and were looked at obliquely by the locals, who were wearing warm jackets, Diana says.
But some Turks also react to them as Russians because of the war: “They do strange things, like saluting us. And then they think that we find it funny. But we don’t find it funny,” says the 30 -year-old Diana.
At 40, Sergej is the oldest of the four. When he talks, he tries to keep his hands under control, placing his palms on the table. But again and again he starts nervously plucking his fingers: “Being Russian has become a stigma. Here in Turkey I feel mostly okay. Because the people here are friendly to Russians. But when I imagine I’m going to Europe or the USA, we’re definitely going to be treated more negatively there.”
In thoughts at home
Roman is also 30 years old. He makes the lightest impression among friends. But he too has a lot on his mind these days: “After Butscha I can understand when people are afraid of Russians. Or that when they meet Russians in their country they say, ‘go back home and do something’.”
Ilya is a young man with half-length dark blond hair, which he keeps brushing back from his face. He used to go to demos too. But none of that worked, says the 34-year-old: “I don’t think the government is even aware of all these protests. But the consequences for the demonstrators are much harsher today. That’s why I’m just hiding. That makes me sad. But even here we’re scared to do anything.”
support for opposition figures
The four do not want to give last names or the industry in which they work as software developers. They try to provide financial support to members of the opposition. But it’s not that easy, Diana explains: “A few days ago I wanted to donate something. But it didn’t work. You even run the risk of your account being blocked because all these organizations are considered illegal in Russia.”
The young people are torn. On the one hand, they just want to lead a carefree life, on the other hand, what happens at home doesn’t leave them cold. With Roman it’s even more complicated. He has a Russian and a Ukrainian passport. In 2014, after the annexation of Crimea, he went from there to Moscow. But he no longer feels safe: “When I left Moscow, one of the government held me at the airport. He searched my documents, my cell phone, my photos and messages between me and my friends. Finally, he asked me if I wanted to join the Ukrainian army. I just said give me my phone back.”
Work in the home office in the holiday resort
Ilya is laughing in the background, although his situation is serious too. Both he and Sergei are afraid of being drafted into the Russian army. That was one of the main reasons for their escape, even if they avoid the word “escape”: “I’m practically in the front row. I’m single, I don’t have any children. But I’m really a very peace-loving person. I can’t even harm a fly.”
Roman is similar. He can’t go back to Ukraine either. You might mistake him for a spy. Little has changed in their work in Antalya. You were already in Moscow because of Corona, mostly in the home office. And yet it’s different, says Diana: “It’s difficult for me to see my colleagues in the video conferences, because I see that they are sad to be in Moscow and that they are afraid. I wish they could be here be us.”
Stay with expiry date
Sergej’s hands rest quietly on the balcony table for a moment – then he says: “The weather, the landscape, the view – that helps against the bad news and against a bad mood. You can calm down a bit. I’m sleeping much better.”
However, they actually have to leave at the beginning of May. For one thing, your tourist visa will then expire. Second, they are running out of money. Because of the sanctions, they cannot access their accounts in Russia. Then where do they go? Ilya nervously brushes her long hair out of her face: “I really hope to be able to go back to Moscow. I love the city and my friends there. I hope that all this will be over soon and that we won’t have to wander the world, on looking for a new life.”