Unlike Belarusians who Left Their Country in 2020, Russians who Left Theirs in 2022 have Not Formed a Unified Political Community, Konstantin Ivanov Says

Paul Goble

            Staunton, Nov. 8 – For three major reasons, Konstantin Ivanov says, the Belarusians who left their country in 2020 after Lukashenka stole the election have formed a unified political community while the Russians who left theirs in 2022 because of Putin’s expanded war in Ukraine have not formed one and appear unlikely to do so, Konstantin Ivanov says.

            For any mass exodus to lead to the formation of such a community, the commentator says, three things are necessary: a common event which provides a point of reference for all involved, a vision of the future within which people can argue, and horizonal institutions where individuals can become participants.

            The Belarusians, Ivanov continues, “have all of these; while the Russians have none of them.” And thus it should surprise no one that the Belarusian diaspora has become a political community while the Russian diaspora has not and does not appear likely to do so anytime in the future (ru.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/08/nenastupivshaya-diaspora-a210728).