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Assignment: Russia's unwelcome new exiles

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Katya on bench.jpg

14/04/2022 GMT

Russia's unwelcome new exiles

BBC World Service - Assignment, Russia's unwelcome new exiles

Thousands of Russians fled to Georgia following the invasion of Ukraine

Thousands of Russians have fled abroad since the invasion of Ukraine began. Many have moved to neighbouring Georgia - but the new arrivals haven't been universally welcomed.

Hundreds of thousands of Russians have fled abroad since its invasion of Ukraine, afraid of growing repression in their country, and increasing international isolation. Most of the new exiles are young, well-educated professionals – writers, teachers, artists, IT workers – who fear they could be arrested and jailed for expressing opposition to the war, and even drafted into the army. Tens of thousands have escaped to Russia’s neighbour Georgia, where some are involved in humanitarian efforts to help the Ukrainian victims of the war. 

But Georgia itself, invaded by the Kremlin in 2008, has a tense relationship with Russia. Tim Whewell travels to Tbilisi, Georgia's capital, to meet some of the new exiles, and finds they’re not universally welcome. They’re accused of arrogance, of raising property prices – and possibly providing a pretext for the Kremlin to intervene again in Georgia.

Presented by Tim Whewell
Producer in Georgia: Rayhan Demytrie

Image: Russian exile Katya Lapsha (Credit: Lago Gogilashvili/BBC)

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