The Baltic states are both shelter and an inaccessible place For Russian citizens. In addition Restrictions imposed by the governments of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, Russian propaganda He takes advantage of any precautions or misunderstandings with the locals to point out that they are hated because they are Russian. However, on the streets of Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn, this feeling is not evident; here you can regularly hear Russian without having to hide, and it is common to see signs in this language and the local language on the streets.
Lyubov, whose real name is not his real name, explains that he left Russia shortly after the start of the attack in Ukraine. He works for an independent media outlet and currently carries out his informative work through a network of people who directly contact sources in the field. HE coordinate more freely. In the editorial offices, they were ready to leave if necessary and registered a local organization in Lithuania. Feeling grateful We were able to move to this country, states that “Lithuanians are very hospitable” and that some local NGOs helped him. In addition to Russians fleeing the conflict, there is also a significant community of Belarusians who arrived in 2020. He adds that they have never experienced any victimization.no discrimination Because Lithuania is from Russia”.
Regarding the reception in Estonia, another of the Baltic states, political scientist Tõnis Leht tells El Periódico de Catalunya of the Prensa Ibérica group: “For the Estonians, the arrival of the Russians was an awakening some concerns“. “Those who dare to raise their voices (Russians) They want to escape to avoid arrest. Dissidents are welcome here, but if more Russians come, it will be seen as suspicious,” adds Leht. The governments of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are among the most passionate. Those who advocate sanctions against Moscow and restricting trade by Russian citizens.
Russian dissident Nikolai Artemenko claims he is not problems He said he did not feel “any Russophobia from Estonians” towards ordinary citizens. But he recalls detecting that “there was increasing Russophobia,” even though “it could not be called Russophobia.” more obstacles For persons with a Russian passport at the level legal and bureaucratic“. “Not very friendly changes with the Russians.”
local rejection
Georgia in the Caucasus is one of the countries that has received the most Russians, 112,000 for a country of 3.7 million, and is also one of the countries that has suffered the most. scuffles Between those arriving in 2022 and the locals. With their arrival, prices for rent and other basic services also rose; This situation has become a problem for many Georgians. Georgians also saw how some of the newcomers behaved. inappropriate behaviorLike wearing a Z to support the Kremlin Army or demanding to be spoken to in Russian. punctual events in public places.
For this reason, and because Georgia’s two regions, Abkhazia and South Ossetia, remain in Russia’s orbit, tensions are higher in this country than in other Russian neighbors. It is very common to see signs on the streets of Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, with slogans such as “Russians, leave” or similar expressions.
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