Until September, Aleksei Antropov was playing double bass for the Russian Philharmonic Orchestra in Moscow. But when President Vladimir Putin ordered Russia's first mobilization since World War II to boost his faltering invasion of Ukraine, the 29-year-old fled to neighboring Georgia, where he now works as a hotel receptionist.
Musicians Fleeing Russia Find A New Life, Audience In Georgia
- By Reuters
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Aleksei Antropov carries his double bass as he moves into his new apartment in Tbilisi, Georgia, on December 26.
The 29-year-old classical musician was among hundreds of thousands of draft-age men who fled Russia when the Kremlin announced a "partial" mobilization in September 2022.
The 29-year-old classical musician was among hundreds of thousands of draft-age men who fled Russia when the Kremlin announced a "partial" mobilization in September 2022.
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Antropov, pictured in 2016, had a promising career playing double bass for the Russian Philharmonic Orchestra in Moscow before leaving his family and life behind to live in Tbilisi.
Georgia was a popular destination because it can be reached by land and has relatively lax entry and exit rules.
Georgia was a popular destination because it can be reached by land and has relatively lax entry and exit rules.
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Antropov was one of the thousands of young men who entered Georgia from Russia in September 2022.
"We were driven to the border on country roads, bribing police officers, and then walked more than 10 kilometers up a mountain," he said.
"We were driven to the border on country roads, bribing police officers, and then walked more than 10 kilometers up a mountain," he said.
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After initially living in a cheap hostel on the outskirts of Tbilisi, Antropov was able to move into an apartment with a friend while holding down a modest job.
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A view of the Georgian capital from the hillside Narikala Fortress.
"I need a home, a place where I can come back," Antropov said. "And I hope Tbilisi will become such a home for me. It is a beautiful city."
"I need a home, a place where I can come back," Antropov said. "And I hope Tbilisi will become such a home for me. It is a beautiful city."
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Antropov inspects a room before guests arrive at the hotel where he works as a receptionist. It's a far cry from his previous life performing in front of large crowds in Moscow.
Despite Russian President Vladimir Putin's announcing the end of the call-up, many Russian men are unlikely to return home any time soon.
Despite Russian President Vladimir Putin's announcing the end of the call-up, many Russian men are unlikely to return home any time soon.
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Antropov is keeping his passion alive and has gathered a small group of classical musicians with a view to performing in Tbilisi and possibly Yerevan, the capital of neighboring Armenia.
"I do not have an orchestra now," he said. "So I am building my own."
"I do not have an orchestra now," he said. "So I am building my own."
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The influx of so many Russians in Georgia has fueled an economic boom but also resentment. Yet Antropov does not intend to return home, even if the political leadership changes.
"The next Russian Putin could be even scarier than the current one," he said.
"The next Russian Putin could be even scarier than the current one," he said.
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Another emigre fleeing Russia's mobilization is Grigory Dobrynin, 38, who is the drummer with the Russian band SBPCh.
After Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, he also left for Georgia, taking only a suitcase full of belongings and two hats that he wore at concerts.
After Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, he also left for Georgia, taking only a suitcase full of belongings and two hats that he wore at concerts.
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Dobrynin now spends much of his time teaching and playing the drums at Practica, a rehearsal space in Tbilisi that organizers designed as a meeting place for musicians from Georgia and abroad.
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Dobrynin at a rehearsal studio on November 18.
"I don't consider teaching to be a step backwards for me. Teaching and playing in a band are just different things. They cannot be compared," he said. "But to be honest, I really miss the gigs and the concerts. It's a big loss for me."
"I don't consider teaching to be a step backwards for me. Teaching and playing in a band are just different things. They cannot be compared," he said. "But to be honest, I really miss the gigs and the concerts. It's a big loss for me."
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It was not just able-bodied men who fled Russia. Women such as 22-year-old singer Anastasia Ivanova also left behind her family and friends.
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Known by the stage name Grechka (Buckwheat), Ivanova performs at a Tbilisi club on November 6.
She said she found herself on a blacklist for opposing Russia's war in Ukraine. Ivanova had performed in Ukraine following Russia's illegal annexation of the Crimean Peninsula in 2014.
"I was very warmly welcomed by the Ukrainian audience," Ivanova said. “So when Russian TV says that Ukrainians hate Russians, I know it's bullshit.”
She said she found herself on a blacklist for opposing Russia's war in Ukraine. Ivanova had performed in Ukraine following Russia's illegal annexation of the Crimean Peninsula in 2014.
"I was very warmly welcomed by the Ukrainian audience," Ivanova said. “So when Russian TV says that Ukrainians hate Russians, I know it's bullshit.”
