Mass Russian Migration to Georgia: Why and What is the Georgian Reaction?
In the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, there has been a mass exodus of individuals fleeing Russia, fearful that they will be compulsorily drafted and that the fallout of the war will impact their lives. Following Putin’s recent announcement of increased drafting, most migrants are military-aged men avoiding service. These ‘draft dodgers’ are seeking refuge in nearby Central Asian countries, specifically Georgia, with their visa requirements for Russian citizens remaining much more relaxed than those of other nearby nations.
Georgia’s interior minister stated last month that over 10,000 Russians are entering Georgia each day, with the total number of migrants being in the hundreds of thousands. This follows President Putin’s September 21, 2022 statement of mobilization. He stated, “I find it necessary to support the proposal of the Defense Ministry and the General Staff on partial mobilization in the Russian Federation,” calling up 300,000 reservists. While the Kremlin’s official stance is that only those with “relevant combat and service experience will be mobilized,” it is suspected that this will not be the case, causing military-aged men to depart the country and avoid conscription.
Many reasons can be cited for the desire of Russian men to avoid being drafted to fight in Ukraine. One is the vehement anti-LGBTQ+ stance the Russian government has enforced, with legislators recently proposing to extend ‘gay propoganda’ bans targeting minors to include adults as well. A gay man who fleed to Georgia stated “I’m more scared of being killed by my own army than the Ukrainian one,” acknowledging the extreme danger LGBTQ+ individuals face in Russia. Another factor contributing to the mass exodus is the reports of students, senior citizens, and medically ineligible individuals being drafted. These reports have sparked fear across Russia, as men with no military experience are alarmed at the thought of entering the war with only weeks of training. Resisting the draft is not a feasible option either, as protestors are arrested and any soldier caught surrendering or deserting faces up to ten years in prison.
Why is Georgia so opposed to the migration of Russians? Recent memory of the Russo-Georgian war can be cited. The war, lasting less than two weeks during the summer of 2008, resulted in a devastating defeat and territorial losses for Georgia and the severance of relations between the two countries. In more recent years, Russia has been found guilty of committing war crimes and human rights abuses against Georgians during the war. The memory of this war is still fresh in the minds of Georgians, fueling anti-Russian sentiment in the nation. Protests include signage that reads “Russian deserters are not welcome” and in order to be allowed to reside in Georgia, Russians must affirm “that they’ve said ‘glory to Ukraine,’ condemned Russian aggression, promised not to speak Russian, and recognized that 20 percent of Georgia is still occupied by Russia”.
There are also economic reasons for Georgian hostility towards Russian migration. Since the mass migration began, rent prices have increased dramatically. Many of the Russian migrants are middle class and wealthier than average Georgians, able to afford the price gouging landlords have conducted since the influx of migration. This has forced Georgian citizens out of their homes, unable to afford the raised prices, and only increased their existing disdain for the migration effort.
While many across Central Asia understand the sentiment of fear from Russian men who anticipate being drafted, it is particularly difficult for Georgia to sympathize. Given their tumultuous history and the economic effect this mass migration has on Georgian citizens, there is a resistance against Russian migration and a plea from Georgian citizens to their government for more stringent regulations.
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