Russian offensive Ukraine The crackdown on dissent inside Russia has intensified, targeting critics of the ruling power. Names like Alekséi Navalny, Vladimir Kara-Murzá, and even nationalist figures such as Igor Girkin, known as the Donbas gunman, come to mind. But beyond the public figures, anyone who raises a voice of protest faces public shaming, arrests, job losses, university expulsions, fines, and possible prison terms. As a result, many who can leave choose neighboring countries such as Kazakhstan, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Georgia, while some militants decide to work from abroad to influence change back home.
In Lithuania, the Russian community mobilizes to support one another and to keep a finger on the Kremlin’s pulse. In Vilnius, within the bohemian heart of the Užupis district, people gather to back exiles and independent media and to host cultural activities. The documentary Moscow Revolt is screened, depicting the actions of an anarchist group that joined protests against Putin in 2011.
The discussion is moderated by Konstantin Fomin, a leading voice within Vilnius’s group. He previously served as a press officer for Greenpeace in Russia. The group explains that they chose to leave the country when they observed the trajectory toward an authoritarian regime and, eventually, a pure dictatorship. The government dismantled independent media, leaving one official version of events. Yet the group stresses the importance of maintaining information from outside Russia, a lifeline for those who cannot emigrate but still seek alternatives by supporting independent media operating abroad.
Go out to show
In Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, the Reform district stands as a hub where opposition activity operates from exile. One member, Nikolai Artemenko, recalls being detained shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. He spent 14 days in preventive detention. Upon his release, he packed his belongings and left the country, continuing to contribute as an active member of the Reformum community.
The Russian embassy in Tallinn is adorned with posters against the war in Ukraine and against President Vladimir Putin. The surrounding environment reflects a climate of protest and counter-narratives. At its headquarters, displays oppose the Russian regime and call for demonstrations, including gatherings near the Russian embassy with Ukrainian flags and posters mocking Putin and urging an end to the aggression. Reformum—a civil organization founded in 2020—advocates open public debate about the reforms Russia needs. It has received support from several prominent Russian dissidents, including political scientist Ekaterina Schulman, who was branded a foreign agent by Russian authorities, and Leonid Volkov, a key member of Navalny’s team, among others. On October 1, an outdoor exhibition opened in the center of Tallinn, highlighting images of Russian reprisals to shed light on the current situation.
Support from the Caucasus
Nikita resides in Georgia and explains that leaving Russia felt necessary because the authorities frame opposition as anti-Russia. He believes action can be sustained from outside the country and supports opposition protests and organization. His efforts align with other Russians, Belarusians, Georgians, and Ukrainian refugees who oppose the present regime. He has taken part in symbolic acts such as burning a likeness of Putin, an act meant to dramatize protest against the president.
In Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, other Russians have organized to gather food and money for Ukraine, aware that such gestures could invite harsh labels back home. Maksim, who asks to remain anonymous, says he has no plan to return while the dictatorship endures and will continue supporting Ukraine as much as possible from abroad. He notes that staying anonymous is necessary because of risks faced by people who cannot leave.