“I don’t know what the government will decide, I have to leave”

“The border may very well close suddenly for everyone. If that happens, I want to be out.“This Russian businessman has not experienced, like the Ukrainian refugees, a direct threat to his life. But with the conflict between Russia and Ukraine – and especially the Western sanctions against the Kremlin – he says he has fear for his future:I can’t give you my name, but I do business in finance and industry.“

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Loaded with heavy suitcases, he arrived in Helsinki with all his family: his parents, his wife, and his child. The two daily trains Saint PETERSBOURG -Helsinki were sold out in recent days, with a sharp increase in travellers, according to the Finnish national railway company. Even if the situation seems to be slowing down, several more families have left their luggage this March 13, at least for a time, in the Finnish capital.

“We find ourselves in the shoes of the Germans after the Second World War.”

A Russian refugee in Finland

at franceinfo

This businessman explains that he bought “golden passports bought in Malta costing several hundred thousand euros” for his family in Madrid. His departure is motivated by the uncertainty caused by the political climate: “I don’t know what the government will decide. He could now freeze all money deposits in the bank, in euros and dollars. I have to go.” Finland is only a stage. He rented an apartment in Rome. From there, he will follow the war at a distance in power.

He takes a critical look at the invasion of Ukraine: “We have war criminals. These people are crazy. I understood that we find ourselves in the skin of the Germans after the Second World War. The whole world hated the Germans.“His father takes him back:”You’re gonna get in trouble“. The family quickly leaves this station which, at night, is illuminated in yellow and blue, the colors of the Ukrainian flag.