Documentary project about Russian emigrants who left after February 24, 2022, when Russia attacked Ukraine. The project explores the problem of self-identification as well as themes of responsibility and pressure.
Emigrussian
During the nine months of the war in Ukraine, as many as 900,000 people emigrated from Russia. They were people of different professions — IT specialists, photographers, musicians and engineers. Most of them fled to avoid being mobilized and going to a war they did not support. For others, it was an opportunity to escape persecution because of their political stance or their involvement in the queer community.
Zhanna opened a vegan cafe in Tbilisi. She may have adapted better than anyone else in her new country, but she also wants to return home more than anyone else.
Dima made a performance in which he tried to represent the experience of crossing a border.
Dasha and Yulia are roommates in an emigrant coliving house in Tbilisi.
Legions is a composer, interdisciplinary artist, openly queer, non-binary trans person. He has written poetry and music for an anti-war punk album.
Natalia is in Georgia temporarily. She is waiting for visa approval to reunite with her family, who had previously emigrated to the United States.
Kirill, sound designer. I took the most expensive things to emigration - a guitar and a scarf of favorite football team.
Daria, illustrator and tattoo artist. She emigrated to Georgia with her boyfriend, who was drafted to go to war. She got a job in a garment factory.
Sasha, a documentary photographer. He came to Georgia via Armenia, but a month later flew to Kazakhstan, where his family would come.
Nikita, a front-end developer, is temporarily in Tbilisi, but is considering leaving for the US, where his employer is based.
Sasha, video and photo colorist. Her parents emigrated to Hungary in 2014. Sasha has no relatives left in Russia.
Alex, artist and author of children's tales. He gave up building his own house in the village because of the threat of being drafted into the war.
Max, paraglider trainer. In the rush to avoid being mobilized, he crossed the border on a bicycle.
Olya is a writer, podcaster, and performance artist.
Sasha, a photographer and professional foosball player. She hopes to create a professional community of players in Georgia.
Nikita, massage therapist. After emigrating to Georgia, he immediately resumed his practice. His clients are wealthy Russian immigrants, as well as Armenians.
Alyona and Ilya are going to Italy, but they have been living in Tbilisi for half a year now, preparing documents to work in a new country.
Anna is a journalist, photographer, retoucher. As an autistic person, she shares on her blog what it means to emigrate as a neurodivergent.
Max, a model and openly gay, emigrated from Russia to Georgia after receiving death threats.
Misha is a blogger, writing political texts and making videos for Tik-Tok.
Gena, photographer. Works twice a week as a bartender at a local bar in Tbilisi.