Traveling to Russian-friendly or Russian-agnostic countries is likely much more expensive than before as ordinary Russians flee sactions and escape where they can.
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Ordinary Russians Struggle With Crippling Global Sanctions
Headlines of oligarchs losing their assets don’t tell the full story of the effect global sanctions against Russia are taking on the ordinary citizenry. The United States’ response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has been a collaboration of government officials from the European Union in particular and across the globe to isolate the Russian economy, especially Russian banking, and target businesses with an investment in Russia.
These actions have had a significant effect on ordinary citizens who are not a party to the decisions of the Russian government. It’s left those upwardly mobile and flexible enough to leave the Russian Federation doing just that. Particularly, those working remotely and especially in technology can no longer access the global financial institutions that allowed them to support themselves. Far from a precision effort targeting simply designated persons of influence or Russian foreign ministers, the effect has been felt everywhere.
Economic measures that were sold as punishing oligarchs and (later) President Vladimir Putin and (much, much later) his family members were broad and negatively affected those who do not have the resources nor ability to conceal financial instruments and ride out any punishment. A UN resolution against the violation of Ukraine’s territorial integrity resulted in 141 votes to stop the action, 35 abstentions, and just five against by Russia, Belarus, North Korea, Eritrea, and Syria.
However, the resolution was mostly toothless as Russia has a seat on the security council and would block any material attempts against their own war.
Neighboring Countries Absorb
Those who can flee Russia, appear to be doing so. In Yerevan, Armenia restaurants are packed along sideways as spring flowers bring local sorrows. Neighboring countries are struggling to absorb the influx of Russian nationals who still retain their ability to travel to many countries but especially former USSR states.
With heavy crowds and a dynamic workforce that is eager to earn, pressure is put on local workers to retain their roles as Russian workers grab cash where they can.
Countries that abstained from voting or have yet to impose sanctions against the Russian Federation find themselves in a precarious position with their own citizens as they avoid a precarious political situation with a neighboring behemoth that could set sights on them next.
“On February 28, the Russian Central Bank banned the export of dollars by foreign citizens from Russia. Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan are heavily reliant on labor remittances sent home by migrant workers in Russia. The pressure on the ruble, banking restrictions on foreigners and — in the long run — the collapse of the labor market in Russia will have an immediate and profound economic impact on Central Asia.” – USIP
Remittances, movements, and investments either pulled or suspended in these countries that find themselves greeting Russian nationals at the airport every day further obfuscate an already complex situation.
Travel Costs, Normal Costs Soar
Those fleeing Russian sanctions fill flights, boats, trains and taxis as they enter friendly or neutral environments. While the entire world is feeling the squeeze on energy sectors, these havens for Russian citizens find immense pressure on other aspects of the economy. The owners of local businesses love the immediate and powerful return of pre-pandemic economic activity, but locals in “host” countries who patronized those businesses and now find “no room at the inn” are growing in their resentment.
Hotel prices in Armenia, for example, have stayed mostly level but longer term stays in Airbnbs and even apartments have doubled in price. Flights have surged in price as Russian visitors arrive, but also travel throughout areas where they’d be restricted by flyover restrictions but can move freely to Paris, for example, so long as they depart Tblisi or Yerevan, rather than Moscow or St. Petersburg.
Inflation that had already impacted the world following the pandemic had not yet hit the rates the US has seen (highest in 41 years) but may leapfrog in places that find this jump in visitors. Smaller states like Georgia and Armenia simply do not have the capacity to absorb an extended stay by their new tourists who appear to be settling in for an extended duration.
Conclusion
Russian nationals that have no part in the decision-making process to invade the sovereignty of Ukraine and operate a war the world had been clear it’s against find themselves seeking their own kind of shelter from the torrent. However, Russians fleeing sanctions that prevent them from performing their work, providing for their families, and sending remittances abroad negatively impact those far outside of Putin’s inner circle. This pits sympathetic or even neutral neighbors and their people (many of whom were born as citizens of the USSR) fighting for their own livlihood, housing, and battling inflation costs to no fault of their own.
It’s easy to support sanctions against Bond-villain billionaires, but when those sanctions affect ordinary Russians and those who are completely outside of the conflict, perhaps it’s worth re-examining the entire approach.
What do you think? Should ordinary Russians be held to account for the actions of their leadership? What about neighboring republics and its citizenry? Should an apartment owner take less than available on the market to sell to a local? What is a local to do when competing with moneyed Russians?
The russian oligarchs would have gotten away with corruption and murder. Our politicians and goverment would have given them honor and respect. The western government suddenly grew a spine to go after their illegal dealings because of the war.
All foreign policy is how much the oligarchs of one country like the oligarchs of another country. The ordinary citizens are screwed in either country, and can look forward to a lifetime of wage slavery in the service of the oligarchs of respective countries.
I find Georgia an odd reference as they were invaded by Russia in 2008, and are probably one of the least friendly countries to Russians on Earth. Are Russians heading to Tbilisi en masse? I’m not saying it isn’t happening, but that would be very interesting to me.
It is happening according to both my sources on the ground and the article links included in the post.
Screw the oligarchs as they are a sideshow. Oligarchs did not invade Ukraine, Russia did. What’s not a sideshow is their country has invaded a sovereign country and done unspeakable things to innocent Ukrainians. I’m sorry but you are saying its terrible that innocent Russian citizens are being adversely affected by sanctions and bear no responsibility for what their country does in Ukraine. I’m not sure that view is shared by many of us.
I think you’re glossing over the part where I outlined the world’s resounding response to the invasion, and I have been nothing but clear about my sentiments against the invasion. I am simply pointing out that faultless citizens are leaving Russia due to the sanctions which puts additional pressure on surrounding economies and citizens of tertiary countries. Ukrainian citizen movements (4 million now) have been heavily covered in the media, but I have yet to see anything about Armenian citizens being kicked out of their homes because Russians will pay more. Is that something you were heretofore aware of?
Innocent Russians are being affected and inconvenienced, true but innocent Ukrainians are being killed in the thousands. Some in unspeakable ways. Cant I say many of us give a shit about Russian and their lifestyle tight now. There is always collateral damage but any in Armenia and Russia pale compared to mass graves and cluster bombs
I tbink the Russians aren’t suffering anywhere near as much as the Ukrankians are. Also the amount of Russians fleeing is probably at best a fraction of the amount of Ukranians fleeing, if you are ever wondering about rising costs in neighboring countries…
Some sources are mentioning some Russians are going back to Russia.
The Russian government will not change course until it is faced with massive opposition and street protests. So, yes, if the Russian people have to suffer in order to understand the sheer evil of their government, so be it.
Spot on. The only way Putin and his regime will be ousted is pressure and action from within.
I see a lot of caveats in articles such as this, stating that the Russian government is at fault but not the Russian people. Initially, I shared that view. However, with every passing day I see lots of evidence that a majority of Russians actually support and cheer on this attempt at genocide and only a minority oppose it. Which would be par for the historical course regarding Russia and Russians. Like the captured communications between Russian civilians and their military relatives in Ukraine. Encouraging them to rape, steal and kill. One woman laughed that her fiancée should rape as many Ukrainians as possible – just wear protection so you don’t get a disease. Total pigs. The people get a government that reflects their personality. The entire country should be walled off from civilization, as far as I’m concerned. And I hope they freeze to death.