TBILISI, GEORGIA (Dagbladet): When he got the news, he started crying. In his childhood he was on a summer camp in Ukraine. Now his own countrymen shot at the children he had become acquainted with then.
But in Russia’s capital, there was no anxiety to trace. No panic or fear, says 28-year-old Aldar. However, he felt all this, and even more.
Fearing invasion: – Putin is crazy
For months, he had been suspicious of Vladimir Putin’s military forces building along the borders with Ukraine in both Russia and Belarus. A few hours after Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, the 28-year-old fled Putin’s regime.
Wartime is chaotic. Anything can happen, and I will not be forced to fight against peaceful Ukrainians, says Aldar to Dagbladet.
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Made retreat, was killed
Putin promised that conscripts would not take part in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Self Russian authorities have agreed that this promise was broken.
In principle, you do not have to do military service after the age of 27, but 28-year-old Aldar does not trust that the Russian authorities will keep their word.
– Apocalyptic destruction
– When you read about World War II, and about the tactics used by the Soviet Union, I get scared. They sent the soldiers only one way: Forward. Those who tried to retreat were shot. Those who returned from captivity were killed, says the 28-year-old, who does not want the surname in print.
In early March British intelligence went out and told that Russia had plans to impose a state of military emergency. In that case, it will make it easier to recruit soldiers for the Russian military. Russia has denied that it has such plans, but when Western intelligence claimed that Russia planned to invade Ukraine, they also denied it.
– I do not know if that is true, but Western intelligence was right about the invasion, says Aldar.
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“Forced” on PR show
Before the invasion, the 28-year-old lived in Moscow. He grew up there, but belongs to one of Russia’s many ethnic minorities. In Russia, minorities from the Caucasus, Central Asia and the Far East in particular are discriminated against.
Several of the Russian soldiers who have been killed or imprisoned are not ethnic Russians.
“Putin’s regime wanted to spare the Slavic soldiers, and I would not have been a Slavic soldier,” Aldar said.
Yulia (17) does not get an answer
To be as diverse as Russia after all, little was seen of that diversity during Putin’s propaganda show at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow last week.
– Some of those who came, were taken from their workplaces, and there must have been criteria for those who wanted to participate. They had to look like slaves and they could not use blue or yellow colors. It was like seeing the embodiment of George Orwell’s 1984says Aldar.
20220320 TBILISI He worked in a bank, but due to the war in Ukraine, he, as a Russian with a minority background, is afraid of being sent to the war. He is from Russia and lives and now lives in Tbilisi Georgia. Name comes.Photo: Hans Arne Vedlog / Dagbladet
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– Do not try to think about it
Since he sought refuge in Georgia’s capital early on, he was one of the lucky Russians in exile and the Belarusians in exile who managed to rent an apartment for a reasonable price.
Now the pressure on the housing market in Tbilisi is great, and prices are consequently high. Many political refugees have therefore had to move to smaller cities outside Tbilisi.
Aldar has signed a one-year lease. He does not know what will happen after that, but he doubts he can return to Russia.
Warns refugees: – Do not trust them!
– I do not think I can go back while Putin is in power. It has only gotten worse and worse in recent years. The poisoning and imprisonment of Alexei Navalny was a major milestone. Those who want to fight against the regime will not succeed. The security apparatus is ruthless and enormous, says Aldar.
– Was it difficult to leave Russia?
– Yes of course. I did not want to go, but did not dare to stay. I was quite depressed for a couple of weeks but have gotten better now. I do not know when I can go home, and I do not try to think too much about it, because then I get too sad…, Aldar answers.
He looks straight down at a table, and takes a break to hold back his tears. He breathes heavily.
– It’s awful to think that I may never see my friends and family again, he adds.
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Hope Ukraine wins
But Ukraine and Ukrainians are far worse off, Aldar emphasizes. He is angry at his own authorities, and despairing on behalf of Ukrainian citizens.
Russia, my country, bombs and destroys a peaceful country. When I see that children’s hospitals, shelters and apartment blocks are bombed… it is absolutely awful, says Aldar.
He hopes that Ukraine will win the war, and praises the courage of the Ukrainian authorities, citizens and soldiers.
The distinction is astonishing: – Terrible
– They fight bravely, and of course I support them. It is very sad to think that “my neighbors” from Moscow are fighting against my friends from the summer camp in Ukraine, says the 28-year-old.
– Do you think the West should intervene, as Zelenskyj asks?
– Yes. Of course, there is a risk that the war could get bigger, but what is the alternative. We can not just sit and watch Ukraine being bombed and Ukrainians killed by Russia.
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