Ruslan Sokolowski reports on his escape from Russia

Migration instead of mobilization. To Kazakhstan instead of Ukraine. More than 200,000 Russians have chosen this path since the mobilization was announced. One of them is Ruslan Sokolovsky (27) from the city of Shadrinsk.

Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin (70) decision to invade Ukraine forced the blogger to flee. “I didn’t want to accept Putin’s decision and wanted to support his regime with my taxes. And I posted anti-war videos and I was afraid of the consequences after the new laws were introduced,” he tells Blick.

He is abroad for half a year. In September, he returns to his homeland to sell an apartment. But promptly the mobilization is announced. “My family and I were in a panic that I might be called up.” So he packs his things and flees again.

“Actually, I wanted to go to Georgia. But the airfares, which increased even more due to the high demand, were too high.” Even the approximately two-hour flight from Chelyabinsk to Astana (Kazakhstan) would have cost the equivalent of CHF 11,270. It must be different. “My mother-in-law drove me on September 25 to the border with Kazakhstan.” After a five-hour drive it’s over. A convoy of about 160 cars is stopped at the border. Sokolowski decides to continue on foot.

“Many had to give up their jobs and leave families behind”

If he arrives after half an hour, he has to wait. For three hours. “There were 300 conscription men there. Everyone seemed depressed, which is not surprising. The actions of their government have forced them to flee.”

In conversations, Sokolowski learns that few have jobs that allow them to work from home. “Many had to give up their jobs and leave families behind. It is not enough that they do not know when they will see their wives and children again, they also have to look for a new job abroad.”

If they even reach the country. At the checkpoint, Sokolowski watches as some are forced to return. He is lucky himself and is let through. “The border guard asked me about my reasons for travelling. I said I am against the war and do not support the aggression of my country.”

“What if Putin manages to get me out of here?”

The massive arrival of the Russians is reflected in the prices and the waiting time. “I was shocked by the high rents. In the beginning I paid 200 francs a night.” And when it comes to administration, patience is also required. “The government has made the property of a cultural center available to register all Russians,” he says.

The blogger, who currently lives on his savings, wants to stay in the country for at least two months. Basically, he feels safe, but sometimes he still gets scared. “I’m abroad, but somehow too close to Russia. What if Putin manages to get me out of here?”

He also misses his family and friends and the familiar environment. The war took all that away from him. Before the invasion, he had recorded podcasts for Echo Moscow. The Kremlin’s critical channel was blocked in March. “The government started a war and closed a medium where I worked. Thank you so much for that,” he says ironically.

Stand with “Putin is a jerk” poster in Red Square

At some point he wants to go home. But that’s too dangerous now. “That would be a straight trip to prison,” he is sure. “The repression is increasing. Anyone who disagrees with Putin will go to jail.”

He himself was behind bars. For playing “Pokémon Go” in a church, he ended up in custody for six months in 2016 and was sentenced to 3.5 years’ probation for insulting religious sentiments. In 2019, he stood in Moscow’s Red Square with a poster “Putin is a fool”. He was fined for this.

He doesn’t want to go back to jail. He has great respect for opposition members like Alexej Navalny (46), who are in prison. “No one doubts the credibility of these people. These people want the best for their country, so much so that they are willing to serve a time in prison.”

Only return to Russia when the war is over

He also wants the best for Russia, he emphasizes. But he doesn’t see much chance of a fight against the state. “I am realistic about my options. The government has a lot of money thanks to the gas revenues. With this money, the police have been equipped with weapons in recent years. I have no weapon and cannot compete with these organs.”

He believes that different processes are needed for regime change. “If Putin no longer has the money to keep the police system running due to sanctions, then the population will be able to get rid of the regime. Or the siloviki, agents of the secret service and the army, revolt against Putin because they are no longer paid.”

One thing is clear to him: «I will not return to Russia until the war is over and there is a change of government. That’s the most important thing for my country.”