Fleeing mobilisation fears, Russians rush abroad as election begins
Russians fearing a new military call-up ahead of the Duma elections are emigrating in increasing numbers, aided by the Ark anti-war project. Requests for relocation have surged, exit bans and electronic summons are being used, and people are primarily moving to visa-free neighbours like Armenia, Georgia, and Kazakhstan. The exact scale is unclear but appears smaller than the 2022 exodus, while Kremlin denials of a new mobilisation persist amid ongoing election coverage.