Russia-Ukraine war: Why are so many Russians leaving their homeland?
Eugene Liamen puts clothes and boxes of food on a truck heading to Ukraine outside Georgia's parliament. Liamin is one of 25,000 people who have fled Russia to Georgia after the invasion of Ukraine. Russians are struggling to find affordable housing in Georgia's major cities.
Many are seen wandering the streets of the capital, Tbilisi, with their suitcases and pets.
Liamine's coat is embroidered with blue and yellow ribbons. It is also the color of the Ukrainian flag. He was arrested during a protest rally in Russia the day after the invasion of Ukraine.
"A 23 year old student told us that leaving russia is best action against russian governement. It is my responsibility to do everything possible to help the people of Ukraine."
Russian people are not choosing only georgia. The European Union, the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada have closed their airspace to Russia, so they are heading to places like Turkey, Central Asia and the South Caucasus where flights are not yet closed. Many have also moved to Armenia.
Must Read an other story: Ukrain and Russia War
More than 200,000 Russians have fled the country
A Russian economist estimates that some 200,000 people have fled the country since the start of the war.The people of Belarus are following the same path. Fed up with Western sanctions on Alexander Lukashenko's government for helping Russian President Vladimir Putin, Belarusians are seeking refuge in other countries.
The effect has been that not only has airfare increased, but housing costs have risen in major cities such as Istanbul and the Armenian capital, Yerevan.On the condition of anonymity, Anya said,"The one-way fare for the flight to Istanbul was equal to my husband's full month's salary."
A lady told us that she leave Russia when a new law on treason was introduced in Russia. It carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for those who support Ukraine, and Anya thinks she could be the target.
"if plitical coercion put on us and borders closed for us,we shall be fear. I remember my grandmother telling us stories about how she lived in an atmosphere of fear under Stalin."
Most people who leave the country are working in the technical field and can work in other areas.A video game developer in a Tbilisi cafe told me that he and most of his acquaintances disagreed with Russia's policies and knew that any demonstration would now be strictly suppressed.
Now the only way to protest is to leave the country, take our money and skills with us. That's the decent thing to do, and it should end there."There have been numerous reports of refusal to provide housing to citizens of Russia and Belarus.
One of them said to a couple in Belarus, "I do not have Russians and Belarusians with me. You don't have time for vacation. Raise your voice against your corrupt governments."We have fled because we do not support our governments. We want to be safe here. But we are being harassed only because of our citizenship. I have to hide the name of my country, I get nervous when people ask me where I am from.