Russians Abroad Suffered Since Putin's Invasion Begins In Ukraine

"Here are Russians - KGB" written in Czech on Russian Residents' Homes (Photo via The Moscow Times/Andrey Kroo)

"This is Russian - KGB"

JAKARTA - Russian citizens abroad may not know anything. Even many of them reject Vladimir Putin's full military operation to Russia. But now they are victims of bullying.

When Andrei Kroo left his home in Ceske Budejovice last week, in a southern city of the Czech Republic, the sentence written above was crossed out right on the front of his house. This city is inhabited by a small number of the Russian diaspora.

Andrei Kroo was clearly annoyed that he was being bullied. But he also understood why he had to suffer like this.

"When Russia is waging war in Europe, every reasonable person should protest, but of course, only idiots would protest in this way", Kroo was quoted as saying by The Moscow Times, Sunday, March 6.

Putin's invasion of Ukraine was condemned by the international community. Sporadic attacks by Russian military forces resulted in many civilian casualties.

And for the Russian diaspora, this is bad news. They resisted the invasion but were met with anti-Russian sentiment instead.

To be honest, they feel unfair with the treatment they get. Because they did not condone the actions of their government.

“It is very disappointing what is happening in Ukraine, but of course, it is all about politics but some people decide to take it out on peaceful people”, a Russian-speaking Uzbek told The Moscow Times.

"I immigrated because murderers and thieves seized power in Russia", Kroo said.

"We must oppose the actions of Putin and his criminal gang",

Yet many Russians living abroad are now held accountable for the regimes they seek to escape.

In many countries, the problems experienced by Russian citizens are almost the same. Russian grocery stores in Germany and the Czech Republic have reported cases of vandalism.

Classrooms in Australia and England are about three dollars. Until the school takes steps to protect Russian and Ukrainian students. Even outside a cafe in Portugal, a sign appeared with the words 'Russians will not be served'.

"I feel like at any moment I could be asked to pack my suitcase and told to get out of the country", lamented Natalia Khetagurova, a Russian from Vladikavkaz who now lives in London.