Authors

Discussion

Before the enactment of the 2012 Law on Foreign Agents, Russia’s environmental movement flourished through the efforts of environmental NGOs. However, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the regime intensified its authoritarian crackdown on civil society. In response, environmental activists have taken divergent paths: some have adapted through self-censorship or collaboration with the government, while others have chosen exile, often viewing their displacement as temporary.

This paper draws on research conducted between 2022 and 2024, utilizing participant observation and 67 biographical interviews with activists across various countries. We explore whether relocation to Europe and beyond signifies a pivotal shift in activism or if these individuals can continue their efforts as they did in Russia. Our focus is on the experiences of Russians exiled to countries including Georgia, Armenia, Germany, the UK, the US, France, Finland, Serbia, Kazakhstan, Montenegro, and Turkey. We examine how exiled environmental activists intersect with other forms of activism, leveraging spaces such as ecovillages, intentional communities, and online platforms that connect displaced activists globally.

Our findings reveal that activists engaged in global transnational networks continue to address environmental issues, using their exile to contribute to broader global causes. Many who were employed by established NGOs in Russia have found positions within environmental NGOs in Europe, allowing them to continue their work in new contexts. This professional migration spans multiple countries, though the UK, Germany, France, and Finland offer more favorable conditions for environmental professionals seeking employment and long-term settlement. Germany and France, in particular, have become safe havens for at-risk activists, offering humanitarian visas.

Russian migrants have embraced lifestyle activism, engaging in activities such as clean-ups, waste separation, and recycling, particularly in regions with underdeveloped waste management infrastructure, like Georgia, Armenia, Turkey, Serbia and Montenegro. Meanwhile, in countries like Georgia, Germany, Finland, and France, environmentalists often combine their work with antiwar and human rights activism. In Serbia, however, such activism faces significant threats, highlighting the varying levels of safety across different regions.

Through this lens, we explore how Russia's authoritarian and militaristic governance is reshaping civil society activism, with a particular focus on environmental movements in exile.