Since the start of the war in Ukraine, Serbia has become a refuge for Russians fleeing their country. We went to meet this new Russian diaspora which has become an integral part of Serbian society. These exiles, most of them opposed to Russian President Vladimir Putin, have recreated a “miniature Russia” in the small Balkan country and invested massively in the local economy. Our correspondent reports.
Three years after the start of Russia‘s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, hundreds of thousands of Russians who are opposed to the conflict or want to escape Western sanctions have found refuge in Serbia. These exiles have become an important part of Serbia’s economy and society, both in terms of their numbers and the businesses they have set up.
Given the historically good relations between Belgrade and Moscow, Russian nationals can easily enter Serbia without a visa and set up companies there. But despite their opposition to the Kremlin’s policies, talking about Putin remains a taboo subject for these Russians, who prefer to concentrate on their new life in Serbia.
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