Gleb Pushev, a young Russian cartoonist and writer, faced extreme danger as Russia’s aggression in Ukraine escalated. He fled from St. Petersburg and found sanctuary in Belgrade, Serbia. Fear for his life kept him from enlisting, yet he sought a space for expression. Belgrade became his beacon and a place to forge anti-war voices. He participated in several protests organized by local opposition groups and even painted a mural in a Belgrade street honoring Lesya Ukrainka, a renowned Ukrainian literary figure. The mural was unveiled at a public event, only to be defaced shortly after by unidentified attackers who daubed black paint and the letter Z, a symbol associated with the Russian invasion. Pushev later repainted the work with his partner Anya, only for it to be vandalized again.
“We attempted to nurture an anti-war Russian movement in Serbia, but the road was rough,” says Pushev, now 25. “We faced assaults from far-right groups and pressure from authorities in Serbia. I am scared too because I am a foreigner, I have little money, and after almost two years of war the situation here has worsened.”
Serbia has received hundreds of thousands of migrants during Russia’s prolonged conflict in Ukraine, with estimates ranging around 200,000 people. In interviews for this piece, a range of individuals shared their stories. Students, artists, and small business owners described leaving Russia after the invasion began last year. They had been critics of the Kremlin, and many had not spoken out publicly before, but the war pushed them to leave in search of freedom of expression they could not find at home.
Aleksei Novikov and his partner Arina are pictured in their Belgrade bar, a symbol of the new life many migrants built in the city.
call from moscow
The absence of visa requirements for some Russian citizens hoping to enter Serbia played a role in the mass migration. Yet Belgrade’s tolerance toward Moscow was never absolute. After an initial period of openness, several prominent activists faced penalties and court orders forcing them to leave the country on grounds of national security concerns. One activist recalls being told that staying would be risky, but the reasons were not clearly explained. Some who received these orders relocated to Montenegro or even Germany, effectively interrupting their plans to remain in Serbia.
Peter Nikitin, a dual Dutch citizen living in Serbia since 2016 with a residence permit and a Serbian wife, faced deportation orders himself. He was detained briefly at Belgrade airport last July, drawing international media attention before authorities allowed him to pass. He now works with a legal team supporting those subjected to similar measures and has continued to advocate for fair treatment under Serbian law.
A photo caption notes Nikitin at Republic Square in Belgrade, a site associated with anti-war activity.
“It was clear that the authorities do not welcome these anti-war voices,” Nikitin says. “If we want to stay, we must stay quiet.” Yet the organizing body Russian Democratic Community SDS, founded at the end of last year, aimed to serve as a container for dissident Russians in Serbia and to amplify their concerns.
Initially, anti-war protests gathered at Republic Square in central Belgrade and in front of the Russian embassy. Today the project remains active only in a limited form. “We even faced obstacles opening a bank account, so the SDS project is losing momentum,” notes Nikitin.
Unprotected
Aleksei Novikov, who arrived in Belgrade in March 2022 and now runs a small bar in the city center, faced threats. An anonymous caller branded him a traitor for opposing the war led by Vladimir Putin. He believes the lack of widespread public support for opponents in exile is a major factor. He also notes the practical challenge of affording life abroad, which diminishes the sense of safety compared with lives in wealthier Western countries.
Nonetheless, Novikov no longer plans to hide. He believes the world should know that there are Russians who oppose the war and months after his arrival in Serbia, he maintains that his activism is not a reason to retreat. He holds out hope for future reconciliation and possibly contributing to rebuilding relations with Russia while staying in Europe.
Nikitin, who has greater protection due to his residency status, argues that protection mechanisms within the European Union for new activists are insufficient. He notes the difficulty of obtaining visas and maintains that his activism will continue despite the obstacles. He has started a petition calling for the end of persecution of Russian anti-war activists in Serbia and has addressed the Serbian president with 4,500 signatures. The government has yet to respond with a formal statement.