Amid the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, a number of Russian artists, actors, and writers have decided to flee their home country out of fear for their safety for speaking out and not supporting the Russian government's stance on the war.
Ivan Nikolaev, 35, and his wife, Alena Starostina, 38, both took to Facebook after the invasion began and posted a video that called out Russian President Vladimir Putin for the attack on Ukraine. They were then subject to crimes after the Russian government passed laws against people for spreading information that did not align with the country.
The couple told USA Today that they were "facing fines of 1.5 million rubles, or more than $18,000, and up to 15 years in prison."
They then left for Finland, as did many other artists who believe their freedom of speech is more important than living under Russian law at this time.
Nikolaev said there were many Russian artists and actors who spoke out against the government, but there were still some that remained silent and loyal to their country. He added that working with people who wouldn't speak up bothered him.
"Theater is supposed to be about common values, like good and evil, but the biggest names in the Russian theater industry, they all kept quiet," Nikolaev said. "Just a few people made statements, but most of them, the best around, they haven’t said a word. So how can I keep working with them?"
Russian playwright Mikhail Durnenkov also expressed his views on Facebook during the early days of the invasion, and was concerned that the Russian government would eventually see his posts and view them as a crime. After being influenced by friends, he and his family decided to drive to Finland for safety.
"I'm between (worlds)," Durnenkov said. "Abroad you’re the invader, and in your country you’re a traitor."
He's fearful of being arrested if he were to go back to Russia, but is proud of the choice he made to have his freedom of speech back.
"When I was in Russia, I had a feeling this war was started in my name, and I wanted to be as distant from the country as possible, like my identity was part of the state," Durnenkov said. "Now I have a right to say, 'them.'"
In addition to those working in the arts, nearly 300,000 other workers have left Russia since the beginning of the invasion, according to a mid-March survey by the nonprofit OK Russians, per The Wall Street Journal.
The Russian government has offered "tax breaks, cheaper loans and preferential mortgages to entice tech workers to stay." But the tech industry has already lost between 50,000 and 70,000 workers, and it's expected that another 100,000 could leave the country in April.
"Before the war, maybe I was under the illusion that things could change in Russia and we could build our company there," Sasha Kazilo, co-founder of the startup Funexpected, said after leaving for Paris. "I can't imagine that anymore."
Her decision to leave Russia came after her husband, Leonid Rybnikov, was sentenced to 13 days in jail for posting antiwar stickers around their neighborhood.
Elena Bunina, CEO of the tech company Yandex, wrote a note on the company's internal forum that she'd be leaving for Israel and quitting her job later this month. There have been many Yandex workers that followed her lead and left the country due to the invasion and the Russian government's demands of people.
"I can't live in a country that goes to war with its neighbors," Bunina wrote.
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