Vladimir Putin’s announcement of mobilize reservists to fight on the front lines in Ukraine, caused great concern in part of the Russian population. Within hours of the announcement, thousands of citizens fled in different flights to neighboring countries and even to others such as Turkey.
An escape that not only took place by air travel, but also by land to bordering countries such as Finland, a escape route for Russian citizens opposed to the invasion of Ukraine in recent months and has intensified in recent days. In fact, the Finnish government announced the “significant” restriction of the entry of Russian citizens. A measure that was added to the limitation of granting visas for people from Russia.
However, Finland is not the only country to which Russian citizens have emigrated en masse. Countries like Georgian and Mongolia, both bordering Russia, have also received thousands of people from the neighboring country in recent days. According to the calculations of Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairsin recent days more than 50,000 Russians have arrivedwhich are added to the more than 40,000 who have arrived since the beginning of the offensive in Ukraine.
The geographical proximity, conditions for entering the country and cultural proximity, are some of the reasons that cause the march of Russian citizens to Georgia. The Georgian Prime Minister, Vakhtang Gomelauri, reported that in recent days more than 10,000 people have already crossed the border. The increase in the arrival of the Russian population to the country reaches 40% since the Kremlin’s announcement.
Mongolia, a second alternative to escape from Russia
Another country like Mongolia is added to the Transcaucasian country. The asian countrywhich borders Russia to the north, has received in recent days 3,000 Russian citizens arriving through the Buryatia region, located in the southern part of Siberia. Also, it is not the first time that citizens of this part of Russia have crossed the border into Mongolia. Since the beginning of the invasion, it has also received a significant flow of Russian migrants.
They are condition of brother and hospitable country, as well as the geographical proximity, are factors that help Russian citizens of Asian origin to opt for this country. Despite granting more facilities to the Russians to flee from Russia, Mongolia has also been one of the countries that has asked Putin on more than one occasion to stop his offensive in Ukraine.
“Since this war began, Russia has been drowning in fear. Your mobilization brings oceans of suffering. Stop the war,” the former Mongolian president told Putin. Tsakhiag to Elbegdorjthrough the YouTube channel of the World Mongolian Federation.