‘I will go anywhere but Russia’: Fleeing Russians arrive in Georgia

Russians which have give up their nation after Vladimir Putin’s transfer to name up extra reservists have been chatting with Euronews as they arrived in Georgia. 

Putin’s announcement has seen flight costs soar on routes to Belgrade and Istanbul, among the many few European locations open amid the sanctions.

“I’ll attempt to discover a job in Georgia,” Alexander, a Russian who arrived at Tbilisi airport, instructed Euronews Georgia.

“Then we are going to see […] I’ll go wherever however Russia.

“All the pieces that I used to be working so onerous for in Moscow for 30 years was all in useless – my training, job, my non-public life. 

“I’ve reached this place empty-handed.

Whereas there aren’t any direct flights between Russia and Georgia, Russians have been travelling not directly to the previous Soviet republic through international locations equivalent to Turkey, Azerbaijan and Armenia.

On the Russia-Georgia land border, site visitors has intensified in a single day between Wednesday and Thursday, van, a Russian driver, instructed Reuters.

“Yesterday earlier than midnight you could possibly cross the border rather more rapidly,” he stated. “After midnight, both plenty of automobiles arrived or the border guards began to work extra slowly.”

The bulk coming throughout the border didn’t wish to speak in entrance of the digicam. 

“There’s a queue of about 10 kilometres,” one man instructed Euronews Georgia. “Immediately I got here right here early within the morning and simply managed to enter.

One other man stated: “Immediately I spoke with my pal. He’s in Krasnodar (a metropolis in southern Russia). He stated that there aren’t any males within the streets. He stated it’s unusual as a result of there have been no site visitors jams, no automobiles… they’ve all disappeared.”

Tbilisi abolished visa necessities for Russians in 2012 however Moscow hasn’t had diplomatic relations with Georgia because the struggle in 2008.