I thought I would return home quickly: these Russians exiled in France to escape the war of Vladimir Putin

Their lives were turned upside down on February 24, 2022, when Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine. Like thousands of Russians opposed to the war, Ekaterina, Misha, and Boris* chose exile in France. Threats to their safety, increasing repression, stifled freedom of expression: these journalists, activists, and researchers tell BFM about uprooting, breaking ties with their country, and slowly rebuilding a life far from war-torn Russia.

At no point did Ekaterina Rozova imagine still being out of her country four years after deciding to pack up and leave her native Russia in April 2022, two months after the start of the invasion of Ukraine. Since the beginning of the war, thousands of Russian nationals like students, journalists, artists, researchers, activists, and intellectuals have preferred to flee Russia under Vladimir Putin’s leadership due to security reasons after daring to challenge the large-scale “military operation” launched in Ukraine.

But four years later, peace negotiations remain pertinent, the conflict drags on, and like many of her compatriots, the 27-year-old woman still resides in Paris, where she works as a Slavic studies researcher. Although Vladimir Putin declared on Saturday that the war was “coming to an end,” hopes for peace have receded in recent days. This weekend, Russia and Ukraine again accused each other of violating the three-day ceasefire that was supposed to have ended on Tuesday, May 12.

“Deciding to leave was very emotionally difficult. But I sincerely thought it would be resolved in two or three months, and then I could quickly return home,” Ekaterina Rozova, now residing in France under a “talent passport” residence permit granted at the end of 2022 through the PAUSE program at the Collège de France, where international scientists and artists in exile are welcomed, shared.

The content continues with the stories of Mikhail Petrov, a Russian journalist and influencer, and Boris, a European law student, both forced into exile due to their opposition to the Putin regime and the stifling of free press. It highlights their struggles, fears, and hopes for the future as they rebuild their lives in France.

Short Context: The content discusses the experiences of Russian nationals living in exile in France due to their opposition to the Putin regime and the stifling of media freedom in Russia.

Fact Check: The content mentions the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, highlighting the challenges faced by individuals who have chosen to flee their country for safety reasons. The experiences described shed light on the impact of war and political repression on individuals’ lives.