By land or air, many Russians arrive in Georgia to try to escape the call for partial mobilization launched by Russian President Vladimir Putin. They arrive in the country after crossing border crossings or making stops in other places, taking advantage of the fact that Russians do not require visas.
After Vladimir Putin’s call for partial mobilization to send more men to the war in Ukraine, numerous videos went viral on social networks reflecting the queues at the border crossings with Russia’s neighboring countries. Countries like Georgia, where the Russians arrive taking advantage of the fact that they do not require a visa.
Euronews has reached out to those young Russians crossing the border. Most do not want to speak in front of cameras, but those who do call the Russian president’s decision crazy.
“There is a queue of ten kilometers”
“There is a queue of about 10 kilometers. I have arrived at dawn and I have only managed to enter”recounts a young Russian.
“Today I talked to my friend. He is in Krasnodar. He told me that there are no men on the streets. He says that it is strange that there are no traffic jams, no cars. All (the men) have disappeared“, secure another.
Russian citizens also try to enter Georgia by air. There are no direct flights from Russia, because diplomatic relations between the two countries have been broken since 2008, but Russians arrive through other places where visas are not required, such as Turkey, Azerbaijan or Armenia.
“I’ll try to find a job in Georgia. Then we’ll see. I’ll go anywhere, but I won’t go back to Russia -assures a young Russian-. Everything I worked so hard for in Moscow for 30 years was in vain: my education, my job, my private life. I came to this place empty handed.”.