The Guardian:: The Russians going against the tide to seek a new life in Ukraine

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/10/-sp-disenchanted-russians-seek-new-life-ukraine

While thousands of Russian-speaking Ukrainians stream across the country's eastern border to flee the ongoing violence in their country, some Russians are heading in the opposite direction. Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty reports
Residents of eastern Ukraine crowd at a temporary facility for Ukrainian refugees in the southern Russian Rostov region on 2 July, 2014.
Residents of eastern Ukraine crowd at a temporary facility for Ukrainian refugees in the southern Russian Rostov region on 2 July, 2014. Photograph: Andrey Kronberg/AFP/Getty Images
Emigration is a hot topic in Russia right now. Following Russia's annexation of Crimea, President Vladimir Putin is enjoying his highest approval ratings for years, prompting those in the minority to ask whether the time has come to find a place where they can feel more at home.
For some, that place is Ukraine, a country they believe is capable of undergoing real change in the near future.
As thousands continue to flee the fighting in eastern Ukraine for Russia, RFE/RL's Russian Service spoke to professional Russians who say political repressions and a hostile business climate are just two of the reasons they are travelling the other way, to seek out better opportunities across the border.

Ivan Simochkin, 45, a civic activist, has applied for asylum in Ukraine

I'm Russian; I was born and raised in a Russian family in the Russian-speaking southern Ukrainian city of Kherson. At the age of 17, I moved to Moscow, where I've lived nearly 30 years – a big part of my life. Moscow is where I started my family and raised two daughters, real Muscovites.
Ivan Simochkin
Ivan Simochkin says he is Russian by blood, but no longer wants to be "Russian by allegiance" Photograph: Ivan Simochkin
For me, home was always both Russia and Ukraine, even when a border appeared between them. It seemed to me that nothing could ever divide my Russian-Ukrainian motherland. But somehow that's what's managed to happen.
In February, when Russian forces invaded Ukraine like the Nazis in June 1941, Russia died for me. It ceased to exist. I don't want to hear anything else about that country. Kherson has already spent four months as a city on the frontlines. From the home where I spent my childhood and where my mother now lives, it's less than 100 kilometres to the border with occupied Crimea. The entire area is stuffed full of Russian troops. When, for the fourth month straight, every morning begins with you running to the computer to find out whether invading tanks have advanced or occupiers' planes have bombed the streets of your native town, you start to reevaluate things.
I don't wish to have anything in common with a country that every day kills my compatriots in Ukraine, which captures and tortures hostages, which plunders and seizes the territory of my motherland. It's revolting to me. I can't remain part of a nation where the vast majority of people are endorsing and rejoicing in this aggression. I'm Russian by blood, but from now on, I'm no longer Russian by allegiance. I'm a Russian Ukrainian. I'm planning to give up my Russian citizenship as soon as I can, after which I'm going to leave Moscow and return to Kherson permanently.

Vladimir Malyshev, 44, a civic activist, has applied for asylum in Ukraine

Although I could have emigrated to another country, I chose Ukraine for political reasons. I know that the next year or two here will be very hard, both economically and politically. But I'm ready to get through the difficulties together with the country. In this way, I'll have the moral right to live here. I'm planning to go into business and am writing a screenplay for a feature film about the Maidan.
Vladimir Malyshev
Vladimir Malyshev has applied for asylum in Ukraine. Photograph: Vladimir Malyshev
I'm very worried about what's going on in the east of the country. The main thing now is to stop the war. I'm happy with the things that [Ukrainian President Petro] Poroshenko is doing to accomplish that. I'm a Maidan participant, and I understand that if Poroshenko doesn't carry out reforms, society will carry them out itself. I talk with officials and I see that they're relaxed, just like in 2004, because they have the feeling that no truly major changes are coming. But I'm sure they're wrong. As soon as the problems in the east are resolved, those officials will be next.

Aleksei Ivanov, 42, businessman, former head of the Yekaterinburg branch of the nationalist Rodina party

Civilised nationalism should first and foremost be applied to support national producers – small and middle-size businesses. Lower credit rates and more favourable conditions all around. But these days, Rodina doesn't want to hear anything about that. They're taking on all kinds of grandiose projects – space exploration, building underground cities in the Antarctic, and other nonsense. What, we've run out of things to do right here in Russia?
Unfortunately, events in Crimea have revealed the imperialist component in Russian nationalism. In the current situation I can't even call myself a Russian nationalist... not in the sense that we see these nationalists now who fervently and passionately support everything Putin does.
I don't consider myself as someone with a revolutionary mindset. I'm a supporter of evolution. It seems to me that Russia is just running on the spot. I've found partners in Kiev, and we want to move in a more dynamic fashion. All those semi-legal regulators in Russia will keep you from developing any kind of business. I'm working with Internet technology. The departure of [vKontakte developer] Pavel Durov, of course, suggests that Russia will let your business grow up until a point, but then they'll start to either interfere or insert some officials as your partners. That kind of situation doesn't suit me.
Aleksei Ivanov
Aleksei Ivanov is disillusioned with the political climate in Russia Photograph: Aleksei Ivanov
I believe that Russia and Ukraine are united by one thing: the bureaucratic environment that prevailed during the Soviet era. We need to squeeze excess bureaucracy from the regulatory sphere. I think Ukraine can get rid of this sad legacy. Perhaps Poroshenko doesn't seem like a romantic and radical politician, like [former Georgian President Mikheil] Saakashvili, but he is very in tune with his people. I think that Ukrainians will push him to make these changes. He doesn't have any alternative. Otherwise he'll become politically bankrupt in a matter of months, and another Maidan will throw him out of office.
Ukraine is the dawn of Russia. We can hope that if everything works out for Ukraine, then someday it will also work out for Russia.

Aleksei Baranovsky, 31, journalist

I was working at Kommersant Ukraine, but after it closed I didn't want to go back to Russia. It's much more interesting here. Important social transformations are taking place, and it's interesting for me to observe them, both as a [Russian] citizen and as a journalist.
It's much simpler for a journalist to work here, because the media market is competitive. The pay is lower than in Russia, but there's greater freedom of speech and it's possible to find media outlets that correspond with your core beliefs.
In Kiev, there's a developing fraternity of Russian opposition journalists and social activists who have emigrated from Russia. It's very reminiscent of the 1920s and 1930s, when aid societies cropped up in Berlin, Paris, and other European cities to support Russian citizens fleeing Bolshevik rule. I assume this trend will continue. Soon the true centre of Russian opposition will move from Moscow to Kiev.

Andrei Kuznetsov, 31, is co-chair of the St Petersburg-based organisation National Democratic Alliance

I wasn't ready for my life to change dramatically, and Ukrainian society is fairly similar to ours. There are no language problems, and it will be simpler to become a full member of this society. I don't need a long adaptation.
I applied for political asylum as soon as I flew into Boryspil Airport [on 16 June]. I ended up spending 12 hours there; the border guards simply didn't know what to do with me. Finally they let me in as a tourist and gave me the link to a UN site with procedures for applying for asylum.
Andrei Kuznetsov
Andrei Kuznetsov has applied for political asylum. Photograph: Andrei Kuznetsov
I've been in Kiev for two weeks already, and I really like it here. There are no restrictions here like there are in Russia; it's very comfortable here, and there's no prejudice against me as a Russian citizen. There's much greater room for personal expression here than in Russia. So I can continue to blog much more freely, without censorship, without fear that the FSB is going to call and ask questions. That was my goal in leaving Russia – to grow and move on.

Oleg Shro, 38, is studying for a PhD in physics and mathematics

I was working at a branch of Bryansk State University in the town of Novozybkov, and a conflict arose with the acting director. I decided to move to Ukraine because it will be simpler to adapt to things here than elsewhere abroad. Now I'm trying to get refugee status. The process can take up to a half year. That's the most complicated part; I haven't had any major problems arise with anything else.
It's a very complicated time in Ukraine right now, with the military hostilities. But this country has the potential to develop. It's still too early to say whether it will realise its potential. The relationship with Western countries will play a big role.
Resentment of Russians is clearly growing here. Up until recently Ukrainians were friendly towards Russia, but now they're opposed to it on a psychological level. It's justified, but unfortunately it's leading to ruptures in family relationships. People have stopped talking to their relatives in Russia who hold a different point of view.

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