Russia Fearful and Fleeing
A 28-year-old digital content marketer who recently moved out of Russia rides a subway car in Tbilisi, Georgia, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026. He asked not to be identified because of security concerns.
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Some Russians have left the country this year amid rumors of a new mobilization of troops for the war in Ukraine as well as a crackdown on their personal freedoms. One digital content marketer says he left for Georgia because of political issues and internet restrictions. A group that helps Russians moving abroad reports a rise in people asking about emigration. While the exodus isn't as large as the one in 2022, concerns about the war, the economy and shrinking freedoms are driving people away. One LGBTQ activist cited repeated detentions and others said they feel trapped in a "digital jail," unable to speak freely or live without fear.
