Divided Loyalties: The Dilemma of Russian Cosmopolitans

Russians with Western values face pressure to back their homeland or risk victimization, reflecting the dilemma of tech mogul Pavel Durov. After Russia's invasion of Ukraine, many cosmopolitan Russians lost jobs and fled. The situation underscores the harsh divide between Russian and Western allegiances.

Russians who align with Western values are increasingly feeling pressured to either support their conflict-ridden homeland or face victimization by Western societies, much like Telegram founder Pavel Durov, who was recently detained in France.

Durov, the Russian-born tech mogul with multiple passports and global ambitions, was once idolized by cosmopolitan Russians. These individuals, who worked in multinational firms and traveled extensively, saw their lives turned upside down when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, prompting many to lose their jobs and flee the country.

Prominent Russian figures have long admonished these Russians, claiming they made poor choices. Alexander Dugin, a key ideologue of the Ukraine conflict, stated that neutrality in a global conflict is untenable. This sentiment has historical echoes, akin to Soviet urgings for expatriates to return home or serve as foreign agents. Durov, who is under investigation in France for alleged illicit activities on Telegram, is now portrayed by Russia as a victim of Western hypocrisy regarding free speech.

(With inputs from agencies.)