By plane, train or car, they left suddenly, with a suitcase for any luggage.Since the start of the invasion of Ukraine, decided by Vladimir Putin on February 24, many Russians have left their country.The war and its bombings were however thousands of kilometers from their daily life.
Some, however, feared the economic crisis, a consequence of Western sanctions imposed in Moscow.Others have fled the repression put in place by power.Foreign nationals who founded a family in Russia have made the same choice, according to the recommendations of their respective governments.
A Frenchman and four Russians tell Franceinfo why they chose exile, slipping their family or leaving it behind.
Nikita, 26, exiled in Paris: "I didn't want to take the risk of being mobilized"
"When the war started, I found myself in a constant state of anxiety. In Russia, the prospects were not already very happy for a liberal like me. My girlfriend is French, I studied in Europe andI worked for an American company in Saint Petersburg. Even if I am not a activist, I had in my plans, in more or less long term, to find a job abroad and to move. Without an emergency.
The invasion of Ukraine has changed everything.I realized that the borders were likely to be closed, that the Russian economy was going to be tightly touched, that censorship would reach an unprecedented level ... Above all, I did not want to take the risk of being mobilized for thewar in Ukraine.When the last independent radio of Moscow was closed by the authorities, my father said to me: 'It is time that you leave.'
"In a few days, power has shown that Russia has become a hostile country for people who have opinions like mine."
in Franceinfo
European airspace was already closed to Russian planes and many foreign companies had stopped serving our country.Fortunately, there are only 200 km between Saint Petersburg and Finland, where I have friends.I am lucky to have a Finnish visa.On March 5, I took the euros I had left, put my computer and some clothes in a backpack and embarked on a train for Helsinki.The first thing I did when I left the station is going to demonstrate against the war in Ukraine.
Now I joined my girlfriend in Paris.I live with her but money will quickly become a problem: without a residence permit, I cannot look for work in France.I would like to be able to return to Russia one day, when Putin is no longer in power.But it is impossible to know when it is possible. "
Vlad, 50, exiled in the Paris region: "We could not take the risk of finishing in prison"
"Life in Russia was becoming more and more dangerous for my family. I am a documentary producer and my wife is a activist and actress with the teatr.doc [an independent critical theater of the Kremlin]. When we saw that the repression ofThe opposition was still hardened, that the police were going to knock on the doors of those who demonstrated against the war, we decided to leave the country. We have a 12 -year -old daughter and an 18 -month -old son, we could not take therisk of ending up in prison.
"The Vladimir Putin regime has shown its true nature: it is increasingly moving towards the dictatorship. I did not want my son to grow in a country where the school teaches him the propaganda of the government."
in Franceinfo
Miraculously, we managed to obtain a visa for my son in an emergency.On March 7, we left by leaving everything behind: our apartment in Moscow, our car, our belongings ... We only took what held in four suitcases and embarked on a flight for Istanbul.
It is a new reality to which it is difficult to adjust.Fortunately, I have friends in France who helped us to come to the Paris region and can host us for some time.But there are still a lot of steps to do: open a bank account, try to see how I can work here ... Maybe later we will settle elsewhere or that one day it will be possible to return to Russia.At this stage, it is impossible to project us.At least, in France, my family is safe. "
Nigina, 38, exiled in Istanbul: "This suitcase is my whole life now"
"Before the conflict, I had never considered leaving Russia. As a freelance journalist, I collaborated with several independent national media and foreign media: the Russian language is my work tool. But in early March, we learnedThat a law of censorship was going to be voted. It prohibits using the word 'war' to speak of the invasion of Ukraine. If we do, journalists as citizens, we risk up to 15 years in prison.
"I understood that I could no longer freely exercise my job in Russia. The day before the adoption of the censorship law, I left the country."
in Franceinfo
The plane tickets were all ten times, twenty times more expensive than before.I was able to find a flight to Uzbekistan, then I joined Turkey.I took a suitcase with my camera, my computer and some clothes.This suitcase is my whole life now.When I left, I did not realize that I left everything behind me.I do not know if I will be able to return to Russia - where my mother and sister stayed - nor when.At the very moment I pronounce these words, I still can't accept the idea.
Some rumors say that the government could prevent the Russians who have left for exile from returning, because we are 'traitors'.It seems unthinkable, but the invasion of Ukraine seemed unthinkable a few weeks ago ... We are neither refugees nor really expatriates.But I can't complain.Unlike Ukrainians, I did not leave my country to flee the bombs. "
Yanna, 32, exiled in Nice: "I left for fear of being stuck behind a new iron curtain"
"Until the last minute, I wanted to stay in my country. I lived in Europe during a part of my childhood, but I returned to study in Russia and then make my career there, by creating the first promotion agency-Itrages of the country. I wanted to help young filmmakers. I have seen the censorship for several years that aims for culture getting worse. Those who criticize power are 'Blacklist': they are not given funding or distribution. And because ICollaborate with some of these filmmakers, I know that I am exposed [to the new law].
When the war broke out, I thought I would still stay in Russia to continue these projects.My father, who is of Ukrainian origin and lives in kyiv, called me during the first days of the offensive and said to me: 'You have to leave now because the borders will be closed and I will no longer be able to to help.'I left for fear of being stuck behind a new iron curtain.Fortunately, I had a tourist visa for the Schengen area.On March 4, we flew to Turkey with a friend.
"It took me eight hours to find a plane ticket for less than a thousand euros."
in Franceinfo
Once in Istanbul, we learned that Russian bank cards were soon to stop working abroad.We went out in the middle of the night to try to empty our accounts.Between withdrawal fees and the exchange rate, we lost a little more than half of what we had.
I am very lucky because my family has a house in Nice.I came to settle here for the moment, but my mother has stayed in Russia with my disabled grandparents.My biggest fear is that this war prevents me from coming back for a long time and they die while I am far from Russia. "
Paul*, 36, with his family in the Var: "We left with three suitcases, three backpacks and the cat"
"I was a French teacher in Moscow for eight years. This is where I met my wife, Anna*, with whom we have a five -year -old son. After the first tensions on the border with Ukraine, we started to think about the idea of going to France. In the event of war, we did not want to stay in an aggressive country. The morning of the invasion of Ukraine, we woke up in a mixture ofAgeration and pain.
We left because we were afraid.Fear of war, the repression of independent media, an economic crash, to see the cut social networks (and with them our access to our loved ones in France and the sources of Western information), to be worried by thejustice...
"We were afraid of the future waiting for our son."
in Franceinfo
I spent the following days to manage administrative procedures.I am French and my wife had a visa for the Schengen area, but it was necessary to accelerate the procedure for obtaining my son's passport.On the morning of March 11, we left by car with three suitcases, three backpacks and the cat.We passed the border with Estonia on foot, then took another car to the home of a former student.From there, we were able to take a plane for France.
For my wife, leaving by leaving everything behind her is a real heartbreak.In Moscow, we had a comfortable middle life.Here we have nothing: neither possession, no money, nor work.But we had the luxury of choosing to leave Russia.On our scale, it involves starting again to zero.However, we know that we are very lucky because our families can help us.It is without common measure with what the Ukrainians go through: those who flee war in their country have lost everything, including relatives. "
* The first names have been modified.
