ZOIS Report: Russians interviewed in Armenia were more politically  active prior to their emigration, than ones in Georgia 

ArmInfo.Following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, numerous Russians decided to  leave their country. Georgia and Armenia were among the most popular destinations for Russian migrants, either as a temporary stopover or for more permanent relocation. This is stated in the summary of the  study, which was published by the Centre for East European and International Studies (ZOiS) under the title "Russians in the South Caucasus: Political Attitudes and the War in Ukraine.

The authors note that, young urbanites with higher education are  disproportionately represented in this wave of migration, which has  significant implications for the Russian labour market. 

"The political consequences of the associated demographic changes  remain uncertain - on the one hand, the Russian regime has exiled  some of its most vocal critics; on the other, the comparatively  liberal environments in their host countries might allow exiles to  connect with one other and mount a challenge to the Putin regime."

The authors of the study also note both Armenia and Georgia are  readily accessible for migrants, who can remain there de facto  indefinitely. Nonetheless, conditions for newly arrived Russians  differ significantly between these countries. Armenia remains  socially and politically closer to Russia, whereas public criticism  of the Russian government and Russian society is more tangible in  Georgia.

"We conducted a face-to-face survey in both countries in late 2022  among a total of more than 1,600 respondents. Although our sample is  not random and therefore does not represent the experiences and  attitudes of all recent Russian migrants in Armenia and Georgia, our  findings illuminate important patterns both within and across  countries. "  

According to the source, the key findings are as follows:

Young respondents from cities dominate the samples, with individuals  from Moscow and St. Petersburg especially overrepresented.

Half of our samples in both countries have not yet decided for how  long they have left Russia. This points to the profound uncertainty  this population faces. However, the share of those who see a  long-term future for themselves outside of Russia is considerably  higher in Armenia than in Georgia: 20% of Russians interviewed in  Armenia say they have left Russia forever, while only 12% of those  interviewed in Georgia say the same. In line with their sense of a  more permanent departure from Russia, respondents in Armenia are more  likely to state that they no longer feel responsible for Russia's  political future (27%), while only 19% of those in Georgia feel the  same way.

Adjusting to the host country can be extremely challenging.  Respondents frequently say they have experienced difficulties that  are both psychological and material - such as trouble finding a place  to live or a job.

Russians interviewed in Armenia were more politically active prior to  their emigration, both in terms of news consumption and participation  in political or civic activities, such as volunteering, donating to  NGOs or organising cultural events. Respondents in Armenia were also  more likely to report that they had participated in protest events  against the war in Ukraine while still living in Russia (25% in  Armenia versus 11% in Georgia).

Levels of political activism in the host country are significantly  higher among our sample in Armenia. The Russians we interviewed in  Armenia discuss politics with friends and family members more  frequently and are also more likely to consume news online and engage  in political discussions on social media than their counterparts in  Georgia. They have also forged stronger connections with other  migrants from Russia.  However, respondents in both countries seldom  engage in volunteer activities or participate in protests unrelated  to the war in Ukraine.

Migrants' views on Russian institutions are overwhelmingly negative,  particularly among those interviewed in Armenia. By contrast, around  66% of respondents in Armenia and 46% in Georgia gave a positive  rating to Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyi. Attitudes to  NATO, the EU, and Western media are also largely positive.

Respondents clearly attribute responsibility for the war to Russian  authorities. In Armenia, three-quarters of respondents blame Russian  authorities; in Georgia, the figure is nearly two-thirds. Respondents  in Georgia continue to monitor the progress of the war more closely:  over half said they followed the war 'very closely', compared to just  over 40% in Armenia.

Russian migrants in Georgia and Armenia have substantially more  liberal social attitudes compared to the general Russian population.  This difference is particularly pronounced with regard to tolerance  of same-sex relations."