Stories Emigrants Tell: The New Russian Exodus in Telegram Blogs
Author(s) Ekaterina Purgina Publisher Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory, University of Belgrade Center for Advanced Studies Southeast Europe, University of Rijeka Published 2024 ISBN 978-86-82324-55-3 Pages 11 Edition Square
The study focuses on the narratives generated by Russian emigrants who departed from their homeland after the beginning of the war in Ukraine. Specifically, it analyzes how Russian emigrants construct their identities through digital storytelling on social media platforms like Telegram amid the upheaval triggered by their sudden relocation. The study also examines the concepts emigrants employ to describe their status, such as “refugees” and “relocants.” The understanding of home undergoes significant evolution in emigrants’ narratives, as the possibility of returning to their former lives is becoming increasingly remote. Furthermore, the research elucidates how emigrants’ integration into host communities is influenced by enduring divisions from their country of origin, including ideological stances on the war (pro vs. anti-war) and the dichotomy between the “leavers” and “remainers”.