In the weeks and months after Russia invaded Ukraine, Zvartnots International Airport in Armenia’s capital Yerevan was flooded with Russians leaving their country, among them a growing number of tech workers. Fearing flight cancellations, exit bans, and border controls, many booked their tickets at exorbitant prices, wiped their phones, and arrived in the small country nestled in the Southern Caucasus — sometimes carrying just one suitcase.
“The war started on February 23. In a day, I believe that the IT market in Russia collapsed,” said Ramazan Karavaev, a former IT project manager in Moscow, now settled in Yerevan.
IT job listings in large cities like St. Petersburg dropped by almost a third as of May, compared to listings posted in January. At least 1,000 foreign companies have stopped or limited their activities in Russia, among them a large number of tech firms, many of which moved their staff abroad. Some wonder whether more IT specialists may leave with their children once school is over, heading for destinations such as Armenia, Turkey, Dubai, Georgia, and Kazakhstan.
Fleeing Putin, Russian tech workers find a home in ArmeniaRead More
