the Russians of Monaco and the Côte d’Azur testify
The Russian-Ukrainian war escalates. After the testimony of four Ukrainian refugees in the Principality, this time it is the Russian nationals from Monaco and the Côte d’Azur who part with us from their anguish.
Some refuse to comment. Others wishing to remain anonymous. Still others tremble or cry at the mere mention of the war that is shaking Ukraine and Russia. While the Ukrainian population has undeniably been suffering from the war for more than a month, Russian expatriates are also suffering the consequences of a war they did not choose.
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This reader, for example, who lives between the Côte d’Azur and London, denounces the unfair situation in which he and his compatriots find themselves: “ the Russians are now pressed on all sides. We have been “pushed” by our government, and the rest of the world has simply turned its back on us. And while some understand that our government has not asked permission from the Russians to conduct “special operations”, and persists in treating us well, the hatred of other countries and corporations towards us is impossible to ignore. Russians are not hired, they are fired from sports and intellectual competitions, from medical organizations, when all this should be outside of politics. For me, it is also a kind of “terror”, unjustified and savage. »
Reading the messages between my daughter and her cousin who stayed in Ukraine, I sit and cry all evening
Helen, Nice
A constant concern
Oleg, for his part, is an engineer on the Côte d’Azur. Although very worried about the renewal of his residence permit, for the moment, he is concentrating as much as possible on the Ukrainian cause: ” We try to help, to make donations to associations, we have hosted (and will host again) refugees. We post information on social networks, report important content, try to convince our Russian friends who do not understand the seriousness of the situation. (…) What is really frightening is the reaction of the Russian population these days! I did not expect such indifference, such cynicism. We talk about military operations as if it were a war of robots or virtual characters! There is no discussion about the lives lost and broken, on the contrary, it proves that the interests of the State are more important than the interests of society! People are ready to believe any nonsense, starting with the Ukrainian Nazis and the nuclear and bacteriological weapons that would threaten Russia from Ukraine, to conspiracy theories, just to justify the actions of the state and their own passivity! »
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Similarly, Elena, a guide interpreter from Saint-Petersburg based in Nice, feels overwhelmed by the war: “ There are probably few families where Russians and Ukrainians have not been mixed over a generation. My first stepfather was Ukrainian from the Mykolaiv region, my daughter is a fourth Ukrainian. Reading the messages she exchanges with her cousin, who stayed in this village, in a basement without electricity, without water and without heating, with elderly parents, I sit and cry all evening. (…) It only remains to hope that members of the Russian-speaking community living on the Côte d’Azur have enough wisdom and patience to present themselves decently in the face of common misfortune (including on social networks, a verbal war is underway ). »
I received many insults. At work, aggressive clients tell me that I better go back to my Russia.
Ekaterina, Roquebrune
And indeed, most expatriates prefer their great difficulty in reaching their loved ones. Ms. Cazorla works in a Russian grocery store in Beausoleil. Although the establishment has an international clientele and products, here the war is particularly present.
She tells us, with great emotion, her fear in the face of the situation in Ukraine: “ It’s horrible, with customers, you can’t talk, you cry. It’s terrible… I come from the south of Ukraine, my family is there. We are the ones who suffer, we are the ones who pay, whether we are in Russia or Ukraine. Why ? Because of what ? You want peace? But why send the army, and not a diplomat? Who is listening to us? Every morning, I send a message to my family, but I cannot speak normally. Everything is controlled. I ask them on Whatsapp if everything is ok. In fact the question is: “Are you alive?” So far so good, thank God. We hope this will all be over soon. »
Russophobia sets in
If in this trade where Russians and Ukrainians rub shoulders, the time is for solidarity, certain other Russian nationals, themselves, are subject to reflections and insults.
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This is the case of Ekaterina, a social worker living in Roquebrune, who tells us how her life changed: ” I’ve received a lot of insults, but I don’t care about threats from virtual people: I’m suspicious of those from people I know. A friend of mine (who is in Ukraine now) threatened me, told me that her husband will take care of me personally, that her parents will have me deported, that I will have to answer for it and that my daughter will answer for it too. All accompanied by foul language and insults. My beautician, in Nice, also says frightening things: that they are going to massacre Russians, that they have hatred towards our nation. (…) At work, aggressive clients tell me that we are fascists and Nazis and that I better go back to my Russia. »
For Elizaveta Lovering, founder of the translation and interpreting company Monaco Translations, based in the Principality for 20 years, this tension was also particularly felt in her workplace: “ I am the Secretary General of the Club of Foreign Residents of Monaco (Crem). I received messages on social networks saying that the Russians should not be part of the Crem. These are fake accounts that sent this type of messages under all my publications. I don’t answer them, I report and I block. »
Also a sworn translator and interpreter with the Court of Appeal of Monaco, Elizaveta works largely with the Russian-speaking community of the Principality. Recalling the common origins between Russians and Ukrainians, she insists on the fact that expatriate Russians stand together for Ukraine. ” It’s a tragedy for us and for themshe explains. If we came to live here, it was a lifestyle choice. (…) We must therefore protect these Russians from this stigmatization. Monegasque institutions must be made aware so that Russian citizens residing in the Principality are spared. I don’t know a single person who condones what is happening. »
Mother of two children, aged sixteen and seven, Elizaveta has also been vigilant. Although they refer to themselves as “citizens of the world”, because of their multicultural origins and their birth in Monaco, Elizaveta wanted to make sure that none of them will defend themselves against school harassment because of their roots. Russians. ” I think awareness has been raised. I asked them questions, but they assured me that they were not bothered by their comrades. Fortunately, everything is going well. You have to explain everything to the children, make them aware. »
All my transactions must be confirmed by my bank
Tatyana, Monaco
Checked bank accounts
The consequences are not only social. Tatiana (assumed name) lives in Monaco. If she did not feel any particular Russophobia on the part of those around her, she still had a very bad surprise when she consulted her bank account: “ after the sanctions fell, even though I’m not on the list [des Russes sanctionnés]I discovered completely by chance that any possibility of transfer was blocked for me, even for internal transfers. (…) I didn’t get a letter, any information… I had to contact the bank, which didn’t know how to answer me right away. Right now, all my transactions have to be confirmed by the bank, which usually takes two more days. (…) What bothers me the most about this situation is the total lack of transparency. I can understand that my transfers are checked, but I would have liked to be informed beforehand. »
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Same problem for Maria, based in San Remo: “ I had a very unpleasant conversation with my bank in Italy, who asked me if I had dual nationality. I replied no, they didn’t close my account but warned me not to send money to Russia, which I never did anyway. »
But the young woman is also worried about her family, who remained in Russia: “ I can no longer visit her freely, given the new restrictions. All airways are closed and I now have to come up with a backup plan to find my loved ones somewhere else. »
And beyond insults and controlled transfers, what the Russian community absolutely fears is escalation. Archpriest Andrey Eliseev, rector of the Russian cathedral in Nice, received an anonymous threatening letter on March 10 saying ” You are Mr. Putin’s (sic) friends. Go to Russia soon, otherwise you and your friends will be murdered. You have a month. “The message, signed” a friend “, is the subject of a complaint according to our colleagues from Nice morning.
Whatever the consequences these expatriates have suffered since the start of the war, and in the hope that words do not turn into deeds in the coming weeks, all hope for one thing: peace. And quick.