"Many for the first time were abroad"

Since April, about 3 thousand Ukrainians have been helped in the Emigration for Action, having purchased drugs for 150 thousand Lari (about 50 thousand dollars).

Last week, the Emigration For Action project opened the second direction of assistance in Tbilisi-for Russians who were forced to leave the country due to the announcement of “partial mobilization”. The co -founder of the project Katerina Kiltau told Paper Kartuli , why such a decision was made, whether the September wave of emigration from Russia from the February and how Russians who come to Georgia virtually without money are different.

- How much time do you already live in Georgia?

- I'm in Georgia since March 5. She left for security reasons as soon as possible. This is due to the fact that in Russia in 2021 I was recognized as a foreign agent (Katerina Kiltau worked as a coordinator in the Voice movement in the Altai Territory, she was introduced to the media-“foreign agents” register due to money transfer from a citizen of Tajikistan and a commentary for the publication of Siberia. Reali.-Approx. Paper Kartuli ).

Here we met like -minded people from various civilian projects and realized that we want to transform our guilt into a sense of responsibility. The fault is destructive, and the responsibility pushes to creative action. So the Emigration for Action arose - a project to assist Ukrainian refugees from Russian emigration, actively opposing the war and Putinism. We concentrated on the purchase of medicines and help in both basic and difficult cases.

- How did the second direction arise - help to the Russians?

- After the declaration of mobilization in connection with the crisis situation that developed on the border, we began to help the Russians who have forcedly emigrated. We decided to act in four directions.

Firstly, organized a humanitarian point on the border. There we had 15 shifts of 65 volunteers who made more than 18 flights.

Secondly, we opened the consulting headquarters for Betlemi, 23, there people can get any kind of information.

Thirdly, we launched a crisis shelter for the Russians who have forced to emigrate due to the threat of mobilization. So far, the capacities do not allow us to place all the conversions, so first of all we populate people who are close to us - those who opposed the war.

Fourth, we made information brochures and a large guide , where we tried to cover all the basic issues that may have a person who first appeared in Georgia.

It seems to me that this is important from the point of view of adaptation, because people, as we understood from the stories of those volunteers who came with a humanitarian mission to the border, are disoriented and frustrated. Many first were abroad.

- Recently, you held several events for the new arrivals. What was they talking about there?

- We begin with a historical context. We talk about everything regarding the ancient history of Georgia, we say that this is a very Orthodox country. Then - about the war of 1992, about the war of 2008. In brochures, we write and so say that Russia occupied 20 % of the territory of Georgia. It is important that people are aware of the historical context and the relations of Georgians to Russia in connection with this circumstance.

And then we move on to the first steps: where to get a card for transport, where to exchange money, what useful addresses in Tbilisi are, where to buy insurance and how to adapt. We also explain to the newcomers that Tbilisi is not the only place for life and outside the capital the rental prices below.

- Are there any differences in the February wave of emigration from Russia and September?

- February is more political and economic emigration. Then activists, opposition, ITishniki came. Now these people are completely different. [Among the emigrating] there are those who were interested in the agenda, but were not actively immersed in it, there are people who were not very interested in politics at all, but simply worried about their lives, do not want to die and kill. Now the visitors have a very different background, unlike February, when everything was more or less homogeneous.

According to my observations, many really consider Georgia as a transshipment point. Some plan to go further - to Turkey, to Europe, to be submitted for a visa in the USA.

- How do the visitors feel?

- People are in different condition, the stories are different. One person said that he has almost no money, but he is an avid tourist and now lives in a tent in the forest near Tbilisi. And by the way, he calls for everyone to do this: he says that this is quite a way out of such a critical situation.

As for cases of assistance, on the very first day a man from Irkutsk came to our consulting headquarters, we tried to find him a “inspection” for several days. He had about 50 Lary in his pocket. We tied him with people from Batumi, as a result, now he went there [for part -time work] make repairs in the apartment.

- That is, people continue to help each other?

- Yes, I don’t see much difference [with what was in the spring]. People quickly cooperate. This is very enthusiastic. The awareness of the power of social ties, the rapid self -organization of people really inspires hope. It seems that not everything is still lost and humanity will ultimately win.

-In the Georgian society, the 1920s were remembered last week, when Russian refugees also rushed into the country, and then the Bolsheviks came. In your opinion, the situation is now similar to the one that was 100 years ago?

- I would probably not draw parallels with what was 100 years ago. No one knows what is now with a crazy dictator in his head. But it seems to me, firstly, now the Russian government does not have such a number of resources to arrange new wars. And secondly, I do not think that the arrival of a large number of Russians in Georgia will fundamentally affect his position. Just as this does not affect what he does in Ukraine. We all perfectly understand that the protection of the Russian -speaking population there is just an excuse for the implementation of imperial ideas.