About author: Muraz Safoev is a participant at the Academy of Young Diplomats in Warsaw and the Media Officer for the U.S.-based NGO Yazda.

Many Russian citizens began looking for ways to leave the country after the adoption of Western sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine starting from February of 2022. Georgia is one of the most popular destinations right now. Russians began leaving there last year, after the destruction of Alexei Navalny's headquarters and after journalists and the media were labelled "foreign agents." Nevertheless, the migration of Russians was met with intolerance in Georgia, and the Georgian populace launched a campaign against the arrival of Russian citizens.

Introduction

Before discussing the reasons why Russians prefer to migrate to Georgia, it is important to note that a migration wave also occurred from Belarus following fraudulent elections, mass detentions, and the strengthening of Lukashenka's dictatorship there. Despite the fact that it occurred prior to the war in Ukraine, Belarusians were sometimes criticised by the local populace for fleeing to Georgia, where a considerable number of them migrated from Russia. Additionally, to better comprehend the cause of this intolerance from Georgians, Caucasus Watch had an interview with the Belarusian stand-up comedian Idrak Mirzalizade, who was declared "undesirable for life in Russia" for "inciting hatred towards people of Russian nationality through humor."

Let's start with some statistics for the analysis. Representatives of the government informed the populace that the recent arrival of large numbers of visitors was not exceptional and that the state had received a similar number of "tourists" before. According to the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs, between March and July 2022, 300,000 Russians and 55,000 Belarusians entered the country. Obviously, it should be highlighted that many of them entered the country for touristic purposes, particularly after facing challenges in other European countries. Due to the proliferation of COVID-19, it is meaningless to compare the current index to the same index from prior years. Given that the war in Ukraine began on February 20, the most reasonable comparison would be between February and March, since March is not considered a popular month for tourists in Georgia. Thus, in February 2022, 26702 individuals from Russia entered Georgia, whereas in March, 45068 did so; the corresponding numbers for Belarusians were 5255 in February and 20029 in March. Therefore, one may wonder how many of these tourists departed the state versus how many remained. As Mr. Mirzalizade stated in the interview, some of those who arrived after February may depart, while others will acquire visas and move to Turkey, the United States, or the European Union.

Why Does Intolerance Exist Against Immigrants?

Why, then, do Russians flee specifically to Georgia, and what is the origin of this intolerance from a country renowned for its hospitality? One of the primary arguments against accepting Russian residents into Georgia is that Putin's dictatorship will have reason to continue its aggression under the guise of "protecting Russian citizens" if the number of Russian citizens in Georgia increases. Having experienced this scenario during the 2008 Russo-Georgian war, Georgians do not wish to see Putin's "denazification policy" in the near term. After the war in Ukraine in 2022, this possibility appears extremely plausible.

Second, it is evident that there is dissatisfaction with the relocation of those people who were members of the state that occupies 20 percent of Georgian territory. Georgian society, and not only Georgian society, but also a substantial portion of international society, blames them for what is occurring because they “disregarded politics” while there was a war in Georgia and continue to ignore it now that a conflict has broken out in Ukraine. Surely, politics and people should be kept separate, as we all know, but due to Russia's government, fewer and fewer countries accept Russians as friends. In recent years, Russian foreign policy has created an absolutely terrible situation for the perception of Russia around the world, in which Russians are synonymous with war.

Moreover, among the immigrants could be many Russian special service agents, who have earned a reputation for themselves by assassinating individuals in the EU deemed undesirable by the Russian government. Obviously, these secret spies could enter the country earlier, but when there is a massive influx of migrants, it is much more difficult and less controllable to monitor their entry. In addition, many Georgian renters were evicted from apartments because they were less desirable tenants than Russians, who could pay twice as much. However, this argument is mostly against the policies of Georgian landlords and the government's lack of regulation in the real estate sector. For the time being, let's continue this discussion in the next sections and now focus on the specific reasons for their migration to Georgia.

Why Do Immigrants Opt for Georgia?

First, both Russians and Belarusians feel safe here and understand that the law will protect them if there are any intolerant acts against them. The statements of the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) MPs convince immigrants that they can feel comfortable in this state. Secondly, as Mirzalizade mentioned, Georgia is a popular destination as a transit zone because there are no document issues and the country is close by and easy to enter. "There are those who wait and will return to the country, but there are also those who fall in love with the country, begin learning the language, and those with families who send their children to school. I have friends who take their children to school and learn the language, and I estimate that they make up no more than 30 percent of those who arrive," stated Belarusian comedian.

Thirdly, the majority of migrants are representatives of the intelligentsia, middle-level businessmen, remote employees, and IT specialists, for whom Georgia is the ideal state to conduct business or work because it is so approachable. According to the World Bank's index, Georgia is the seventh most business-friendly nation in the world. Additionally, there are numerous benefits that are significant for more than just Russian immigrants, such as the fact that, along with English, Russian is the most widely understood language in Georgia, as the majority of the elderly speak it, and young people also learn Russian alongside English to increase their market value.

Georgia is also a popular destination for Russian and Belarusian tourists in terms of sightseeing, regional tourism, delectable cuisine, and climate. As previously highlighted, the citizens of Russia and Belarus can enter Georgia without a visa, and they can remain there for a year without leaving. Furthermore, Georgia retains a post-Soviet atmosphere in which Russians and Belarusians can easily assimilate and build their own inner society and venues. Ultimately, Georgia is budget-friendly and, compared to other European nations, it is less costly.

The Positives and Negatives of Their Relocation

Considering an additional aspect, is the migratory flow advantageous for Georgia or not? As previously stated, the price of apartments has increased dramatically as, prior to the Russo-Ukrainian War, the majority of Georgia's building materials were imported from Ukraine. Consequently, the price of apartments has risen substantially. Moreover, according to real estate professionals, the cost of renting an apartment in the capital has climbed by a record 48%. (Gamcemlidze, G., 2022) The case involving the growth in real estate prices benefits one segment of Georgian society, but it has produced major problems for another group, which rents apartments. Due to the drastic changes in the market, Georgian landlords frequently evicted their former Georgian tenants in order to increase their profits.

However, a large number of Georgian landlords similarly refuse to welcome Russian migrants, and one may frequently find postings on rental service websites such as Airbnb that expressly state that Georgia is occupied by the Russian government and that Russian migrants are not welcome in Georgia. At the same time, initially the anticipated number of renters was incorrect since it was an illusion that a substantial portion of the Russian population was relocating to Georgia. As a result, real estate would be rented out at double the price, and nobody knows when prices will be adjusted. Currently, the government has not proposed any actual measures to address these changes. And since the academic year approaches, an increasing number of students from the provinces will arrive in the capital, leading to the anticipation of major student demonstrations in Tbilisi.

One may also argue that the migration of Russians and Belarusians could have favourable effects on Georgia. The Georgian government has also emphasised the importance of  “tourists’” contributions to the economy. The majority of immigrants are wealthy and have migrated their businesses/startups and IT products to Georgia. People whose morale makes it dangerous for them to live in contemporary Russia could be said to be fleeing the country. Similar to Soviet dissidents who escaped the USSR, these individuals can bring significant benefits to Georgia. Over the ages, the Russian Empire, the USSR, and Russia itself lost their "brains"—individuals who contributed significantly to the development of Western civilisation but did not fit the political framework of the governing authorities.

The Viewpoint of the Government

At the same time, the influx of migrants has become another point of discord between Georgian Dream and the bloc of opposition parties, who continue to criticise each other for nearly everything that occurs in the state, including the adoption of visas for Russian citizens. GD authorities accuse opposition parties of chauvinistic and xenophobic actions against Russian and Belarusian citizens, stressing that the majority of them are in Georgia for touristic purposes, while opposition parties demand changes for the visitors, such as a new visa policy for Russian and Belarusian citizens, as was suggested by the Lelo party, to avoid vulnerable challenges and existing threats, which have significantly intensified in the context of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and ongoing hostilities.

The State Security Service issued a statement in early March claiming that misinformation was intentionally spread about the massive and uncontrolled influx and promising that the security situation in the country is under complete control. It is less likely that the arrival of these migrants will have any effect on terrorist attacks or sabotage. However, it may have a greater impact on trade-economic policy and aid the Russian Federation in avoiding sanctions through Georgia; this is the aspect that should be prioritised.

Should Russian Immigrants Be Held Responsible for Russia’s Occupational Policy?  

Lastly, one may debate whether we should wait for additional immigrants to Georgia. "Depending on how the Russo-Ukrainian war develops, there will be more or fewer tourists. A significant number of Russians have already decided not to visit Georgia because of the heavy advertising of russophobia. This is a fact, not a value judgement," highlighted Mirzalizade. Additionally, he added, "The Russian language functions as a trigger in this case; there was no intolerance towards me, and everyone was polite. There were a few rare occurrences, so claiming there were none would be inaccurate."

Since the migration began, there have been countless examples in which Georgian facilities aided Ukrainians, though some of them expect Russians who immigrate to Georgia to do the same. For example, in March, the Bank of Georgia, one of the main banks in Georgia, established new requirements for Russian citizens. Prior to opening a bank account, Russians must sign provisions criticising Russia's aggression in Georgia and Ukraine. It is unknown, however, if the bank still requires this adjustment and if it is being implemented equally across all affiliated departments. Since several months ago, the "Dedaena" bar in Tbilisi has required Russian visitors to register on its website and answer questionnaires recognising Crimea as a Ukrainian territory and condemning Putin's aggressive policies in Ukraine and Georgia before entering the bar. There are numerous instances of similar acts that demonstrate genuine support for Ukrainians and encourage Russian migrants to follow suit.

Possibly the most important factor for Russian migrants, not only those in Georgia but also those abroad who migrated because of the Putin regime both before and after the war, is to demonstrate that they did so because of their political attitudes and not because of sanctions that hampered their comfort and wellbeing. It is crucial for migrants to demonstrate that they do not wish to be associated with the Russian government. One may argue that most migrants are not pro-Putin or pro-Lukashenka supporters; that’s why they migrate. "The majority of these individuals are opposed to what is occurring in Russia, including everyone with whom I spoke. People that feel uncomfortable in Russia and cannot accept what is happening here," mentioned Idrak Mirzalizade.

"Everyone [immigrants] must act normally and make an effort to assimilate [into Georgian society]. First, there is no need to demonstrate rights; there is huge tension, but there is no need to exacerbate it. Instead, we [Russians/Belarusians and Georgians] must demonstrate to one another that we can coexist and work together! Personally, I'm somewhat uncomfortable about the fact that I performed a concert in Russian in Tbilisi, as this strengthens the Russian-speaking community.” As Mirzalizade says, “There is no need to drink loudly and be disruptive! It is a complicated time; you must exercise greater restraint. Be Humble! [in English]”

Idrak Mirzalizade's perspectives are exceptionally relevant for this analytical piece, as being a Belarusian stand-up comedian who was imprisoned for 10 days for a joke about a mattress, he was subsequently labelled as a russophobe. It could be said that the expulsion of a stand-up comedian from Russia coincided with the fight against "Russophobia" in Russia. In the same year, Alexei Navalny's return from Germany and imprisonment occurred; authorities dispersed mass actions in support of Navalny; individual activists were also persecuted by the government, which placed them under preventive administrative arrest and pressured them to leave the country. Throughout the year, numerous media outlets and organisations were labelled "foreign agents" by the government. The hunt for human rights activists and active citizens commenced, and at the end of the year, the prosecutor's office filed a lawsuit to dissolve Memorial, an organisation founded in the late 1980s to honour the victims of political repression.

The article focuses on this because all of these activities might be regarded as a form of preparation for a conflict with Ukraine because, in addition to military exercises on the border with Ukraine, the Russian government opted to seize more authocratic power at home to prevent anti-war protests. Understanding the significance of the fact that the war in Ukraine began with anti-denazification slogans, it is obvious that a wave of Russophobia might quite accidently spread to Georgia. The instigators of this confrontation can be both visiting migrants and Kremlin-sponsored far-right organisations. Unfortunately, no visa regime can save Georgia from a military invasion in this situation. Putin has nothing to lose, and since he has been at war with Ukraine for far too long, an invasion of accessible, pro-Western Georgia can always turn out to be a nice boost to his popularity ratings and delicious propaganda fodder for the Russian population.