{
  "id": 7247552,
  "title": "Russia’s ‘digital jail’ is driving a new exodus",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/russias-digital-jail-is-driving-a-new-exodus",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-14T04:41:44.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Economic Times",
    "slug": "the-economic-times",
    "url": "https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/russians-are-packing-up-again-fear-of-a-digital-jail-is-one-reason/articleshow/134232544.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In the summer of 2024, a 28-year-old digital content marketer fled Russia, leaving behind his family and friends, due to concerns over the political climate and restrictions on internet access. He expressed sadness at leaving his homeland but found it necessary due to the current situation. He is among several individuals who have either left or are considering a move, driven by the recent Ukrainian drone attacks in Russia and rumors of a possible mobilization of troops. The exodus, while not as large as in 2022 when hundreds of thousands fled, is still significant.\n\nAnastasia Burakova, founder of Kovcheg, a group assisting citizens leaving Russia, has seen a surge in queries, nearly eight times more than in May. However, unlike 2022 when men fled due to a partial conscription, there are no signs of mass movement at border crossings or shortages of travel documents to visa-free countries.\n\nSocial media posts reveal a growing number of Russians contemplating emigration, citing war-related reasons, economic concerns, and diminishing freedoms. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has suggested that Russia might mobilize again after the State Duma elections, a claim denied by the Kremlin.\n\nThe situation has caused a wave of anxiety among Russians, with some preparing to leave. A Moscow-based diplomat reported a rise in public anxiety, with more Russians appearing in neighboring Georgia and Armenia. Armenia's Security Council Secretary, Alen Simonyan, suggested his country would help Russians avoid being drafted, but this drew criticism from the Russian Foreign Ministry. Some Russians, including a pacifist digital content marketer and a Muscovite concerned about her husband's conscription, have left the country in search of safety and better opportunities abroad.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "28-year-old digital marketer leaves Russia amid political climate concerns.",
    "Kovcheg group sees nearly eight times increase in emigration queries.",
    "Russians contemplate emigration due to war, economy, and freedom losses."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}