Disrupted Activism: Environmentalists Caught in the Crossfire of War and Exile

Before Russia’s 2012 Law on Foreign Agents, the country’s environmental movement thrived, led by active environmental NGOs. However, after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the government tightened its crackdown on civil society. In response, environmental activists have taken different paths: some have adapted through self-censorship or collaboration with the state, while others have chosen exile, often seeing it as temporary. This study, based on participant observation and 67 biographical interviews conducted between 2022 and 2024, examines the experiences of Russian environmental activists now in exile across countries including Georgia, Armenia, Germany, the UK, the US, France, Finland, Serbia, Kazakhstan, Montenegro, and Turkey. We explore whether relocating to Europe and beyond marks a shift in their activism or if they can continue their previous efforts in new contexts. Exiled activists have adapted by forming transnational networks, leveraging spaces like ecovillages, intentional communities, and digital platforms that connect displaced activists worldwide. Many former Russian NGO employees have secured positions with environmental organizations in Europe, where some countries, notably the UK, Germany, France, and Finland, offer favorable conditions and humanitarian visas for at-risk activists. In countries with limited waste infrastructure, such as Georgia, Armenia, Turkey, Serbia, and Montenegro, these activists have embraced “lifestyle activism,” focusing on community clean-ups, waste separation, and recycling. Environmental work often intersects with antiwar and human rights efforts in places like Georgia, Germany, Finland, and France, while in Serbia, activism remains riskier, illustrating varied levels of safety. Through this lens, we analyze how Russia’s authoritarian regime is reshaping civil society, spotlighting the resilience and adaptability of environmental activism in exile.