‘Why The Hell Are You Even Here?’: Russian Residents In Malta Speak Out On Social Discrimination
As the invasion of Ukraine has no signs of coming to an end, citizens of the aggressor country who live in the West are given little opportunity to show how their livelihoods are being compromised.
Widespread sanctions mean Russians at home and abroad have lost the right to travel, work and visit relatives in most European countries. Additionally, access to online services and the ability to make transactions overseas is restricted.
Lovin Malta spoke to 16 Russian residents in Malta to understand how nationality has effected their life ever since the world’s largest country has been sanctioned against. We asked four questions, and below are the findings.
(Source: Andalou Agency)
Disclaimer: All but one of the participants moved to Malta well before the invasion. 43% of respondents moved to Malta for study purposes, mostly for learning or improve their English. Another 36% said they moved here for work purposes. The rest either cited family as their motivation for relocation or refused to give details.
1. The participants were asked how their family back home was affected by the war.
One in four cited emotional damage as the main effect left on their relatives at home.
“Everyone in my family was shocked and almost in disbelief at the possibility of such a situation, when two kindred countries were in an armed conflict. Now they are afraid for their future and the future of their children,” one Russian respondent said.
Further down, 19% of respondents said that army conscription worried them, as they still have male relatives in Russia who could be forcefully recruited to fight in Ukraine.
“My parents are doctors and they can be sent to this war. I am happy that they are already 60, so they have good chances to stay home but still I am very worried because our government is insane and unpredictable,” a respondent said.
Russians fleeing the country into neighbouring Georgia were not welcomed (Source: Financial Times)
2. The participants were also asked if being Russian made them feel a sense of guilt since the invasion broke out.
While 42% explained that they do feel guilty in some way or another, a majority of 58% stated that they don’t.
“People were angry at me and blamed me just cause of my nationality and that’s just not fair, this game is so much bigger than that,” one person said.
“Almost all of my Russian-speaking friends in Malta were from Ukraine. Many stopped communicating because of the war. I would like to be able to say that I am Russian without embarrassment when I meet people of my own culture, spirit and blood from Ukraine,” another one said.
One respondent who stated that they do not feel guilty had some harsh words:
“I am proud of being Russian, since Russia was very patient with Ukrainians for eight years, giving them a chance to change their cruelty and provocation. Russia treated them as a brothers, but Ukraine hit them from the back with a knife. But slowly people around the world are getting to know the real face of Ukrainians.”
Most Ukrainians and Russians still consider each other brothers (Source: Carnegie Moscow Center)
3. Furthermore, the participants were asked if and how people react when they find out they are Russian.
Almost two-thirds of respondents said that people do react.
“One time a man found out that I’m Russian and asked me ‘why the hell are you even here?’ It felt like I was obliged to justify myself so he doesn’t become aggressive towards me, and he wasn’t even Ukrainian or Maltese,” one person said. “Maltese people would have the opposite reaction. They start telling me how they understand why Russia had to start the special operation and they support my country…”
“Yes they do and they ask my opinion on the situation,” another person said. “Ukrainians don’t appreciate anything. Some insult me on Facebook but are afraid to say those same things to my face. Maltese police have warned me to be careful in the streets, because of the aggression of some Ukrainians. And most of those Ukrainian aggressors have been living in Malta for a very long time and never want to go back to Ukraine.”
4. Lastly, the participants were given the chance to add any further comments and we got the following responses:
“I wish people would know that Russians have nothing to be blamed for. We don’t want to kill innocent people but the economic centre, the US, doesn’t cooperate with us and keeps moving NATO closer to our borders. We have no choice but to protect the nation. Unfortunately for Ukraine, at its cost, although I do think that the Ukrainian government had perfectly known that provoking Russia will lead to no good and had made its choice, and that is most definitely not the innocent people who are at fault and are now being dragged into a full-scale political game.”
“I wish that no nationality is forced to feel guilty for something that politicians play, as it is the same as being forced to feel ashamed for your parents. One should be grateful to their Motherland, family, country. And one should never insult or be disrespectful to the country, people, family they were born in.”
“It is morally difficult to bear when you no longer feel free to act the way you were used to. The hardest part is not seeing my relatives. First there was Covid and the country was in the red zone, making it impossible to fly there, and now air links to Europe have been cut off altogether. You can’t help your parents who are in need financially. Grandchildren are deprived of live communication with grandparents.”
“Although human casualties are not replenished and the horror of war will not be erased for a long time. I hope and pray this madness will stop in the coming year.”
“Nationality does not define humanity.”
Have you or a loved one been affected by a situation like this? Please reach out to us, even in confidence, at [email protected].