Someone people are fired, but more often are being consoled: how Europe treats the Russians living there

Novye Izvestia has already addressed a very topical topic - the attitude towards the Russians in connection with the special operation in Ukraine. State propagandists are especially peddling it, accusing the West of hypocrisy and xenophobia. The matter, however, is much more complicated. On a subconscious level, yes, Russians are perceived ambiguously, and quite often they try to tell them in person, hearing Russian speech in transport or on the street, or seeing a Russian passport in a government institution.

On the other hand, the policy of tolerance so persecuted in Russia is bearing fruit: Europeans are trying with all their might to fight their own subconscious, and often they succeed. So, we have already written about the fact that many schools, universities and institutions are compiling memos that explain: accusing all Russians of what the Russian authorities are doing is wrong and even criminal. To convince, of course, is not possible for everyone and not immediately. For example, translator Ksenia Girilovich, who worked as a freelancer in France, writes in her blog:

“I lost my job today. The European company to which I made transfers refused my services due to sanctions. They expressed their regret, asked not to take it personally, praised for many years of conscientious cooperation.

Together with me, my colleague, a Dagestani from Makhachkala, who, in fact, has nothing to do with all this imperial khtoni, was also refused.

And now I'm sitting on City Hall Square and I feel like a hero of Remarque. Without work, but by and large and without a homeland.

Erich-Maria, who would have thought that your novels would become relevant again.

Despair is replaced by melancholy, followed by depression and apathy, and again in a circle, perfectly looped.

Not because of work, although I liked my work and I did it well.

Just a bad feeling".

Or another example. The Danish circus terminated the contract with the Kyrgyz artist Atai Omurzakov and other Kyrgyz artists only because the government of Kyrgyzstan supported the Russian special operation in Ukraine. Fortunately, the Danes very quickly changed their minds and decided not to terminate the contract, Omurzakov himself reports to Kaktus.media. According to him, they sent a letter to their agent saying that they intend to continue working with the dancers: “They indicated in the letter that they thought we were part of Russia. The inviting party regrets what happened and intends to continue cooperation with us. There's been some misunderstanding".

But in most cases, European employers or officials not only do not drive Russians away, but, on the contrary, help them.

Analyst Vladimir Yagutyan writes about this using the example of his daughter studying in France: “I talked to my daughter. Here's what she said.

Came back from uni and immediately got a call. The real estate agency through which she rented an apartment in Lyon. Her heart sank and then the thought - they call to announce that they are terminating the lease agreement with her, as with a citizen of Russia. Cries beforehand. In the head - where to live? Where is she now with the cat?

...And from the phone: “Are you all right? Right? Do you need a lease payment deferral? If so, you can count on support. Need a psychologist - be sure to tell..."

Blogger Nikolay Seleznev gives the example of his son, a student at a German university:

“The same in Germany. At the university where my son works, the attitude towards Russians has not changed, and this is normal!”

And Pavel Metzer, who lives in France, refers to the experience of his wife:

“We are also Russian citizens, we live in France. My wife works for a large French company. There they sent a letter that in no case should discrimination be allowed on the basis of nationality. So far nothing seems to be happening.

I myself went to the prefecture the other day about the renewal of documents. There was talk about what was happening. I expressed my sincere attitude. Further discussion proceeded without problems. At the end, the employee said that I didn’t have to be afraid of anything”.