Chulpan Khamatova, a prominent Russian actress known for her roles in international films, says she has gone into exile in Latvia following her country’s invasion of Ukraine.
In an interview broadcast on YouTube on March 20, the 46-year-old actress -- who leads the Gift of Life children’s cancer charity in Russia -- said she has been in Riga the past several weeks with her daughters.
Khamatova -- known internationally for her role in the 2003 film Goodbye Lenin! -- said she was on holiday when the war started.
“I thought at the start that I would just wait. Then I signed the petition against the war. And then it was made clear to me it would be undesirable for me to go back," she said. "I know I am not a traitor. I love my motherland very much."
Khamatova said that in order to return to Russia she would either have to deny that a war was taking place or apologize for not supporting what President Vladimir Putin calls a “special military operation.”
“Lie to yourself, lie to the whole world, live not according to the truth,” she said.
"I don't know how to ignore what I see with my own eyes and receive from my Ukrainian friends about what is happening," she added.
On February 24, Khamatova posted a statement on her Facebook page decrying the war and calling for an end to hostilities. She signed a petition along with other Russian celebrities, organizations, and charities demanding an end to the war.
A decade ago, Khamatova appeared in a campaign video in support of Putin, citing his help for her charity.
She is the latest of several Russian cultural stars who have come out against the war or decided to leave the country.
Olga Smirnova, a principal dancer for the famed Bolshoi Theater in Moscow, left Russia for the Netherlands in protest at her country's unprovoked offensive against Ukraine.