Authors

Maria tysiachniouk¹; Laura Henry²;  ¹ University of Eastern Finland, Finland;  ² Bowdoin College, Main, United States

Discussion

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine represents a critical juncture for activists in Russia, with many of them leaving the country. The paper examines how the departure of many active Russian citizens is shaping environmental activism. Our research question is: how do the experiences of migration and exile sustain or transform the type of environmentalism undertaken by Russian activists who have fled the country? The paper explores the diverse approaches and priorities that exiled activists have taken as they attempt to continue their former activities at different levels, from local to transnational. In addition to working on environmental issues, many activists are engaged in antiwar and humanitarian activism. The research is based on more than 62 interviews with Russian activists who have left their home country after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022; 12 interviews are follow-ups after a year in exile. The interviews were conducted with activists located in Georgia, Armenia, Turkey, Finland, and Germany, between March 2022 and October 2023, either in person or through a remote connection.

We explore how emerging patterns of activism have either been sustained or transformed after February 24, 2022. Factors shaping the emerging trajectories of activism in exile such as; levels of grassroots experience or professional expertise in Russia; pre-existing connections to transnational environmental NGO networks. Our analysis indicates that a small number of activists have been able to continue or even strengthen their work with international partners on global issues such as climate change. On the other hand, activists committed to environmentalism on a personal level prioritize lifestyle choices, community building, and local impacts. Some of the activists work both internationally and on the grassroots level. In addition to the activists’ personal experiences, the characteristics of the host nation-state determine which activities are possible and whether activists in exile can make connections to civil society locally. Factors impacting on how the activists have become embedded in a new location include the density of the exile community, local opportunities and constraints for the activists, and attitudes of the population in a host country toward Russia, the war, and the exiles from Russia. These factors encompass issues of colonialism, as well as opportunities and incentives for long-term residency or citizenship. Additionally, the attitudes of the host country government towards Russia, the war, and exiles play a crucial role. Overall, the paper underscores the interconnectedness of environmental activism, geopolitics, and experiences of people in exile, shedding light on the complexities of this issue.