FreeДом

12 min.

FreeДом

03.10.22

In the months since Russia invaded Ukraine, the three South Caucasus countries have become a haven for people fleeing from both sides of the war. While Ukrainians have been widely welcomed, residents in Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia have wrestled with the impact of the thousands of Russians pouring over their borders. They are driven by many things—some flee persecution, while others seek to escape military service—and their fate is uncertain as they navigate their new reality.

Two Russian journalists moved to Armenia following the Russian invasion of Ukraine as an act of protest against the Russian attack and the government’s policy of media censorship.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine changed the fate of thousands of Russians, including journalists Vlad Gagin, 29, and Andrey Serafimov, 24. In protest to the invasion, the two fled to Armenia in search of peace and the freedom to work. 

Freedom of speech and media ethics are core values for journalists–and often difficult to find in Russia. In Armenia, working in different media, Vlad and Andrey have discovered a new purpose: competing with Russian propaganda.   

This film was prepared with support from the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) South Caucasus Regional Office. All opinions expressed are the author’s alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views of FES or Chai Khana.