"The latest news on the Thai Government’s decision to temporarily suspend visa on arrival (VoA) for 18 countries DOES NOT affect holders of Russian passports. Russians can still visit Thailand for 30 days without visa."

 

No wonder they come.....

And same situation I'd too!

 

14 hours ago, GypsyT said:

"The latest news on the Thai Government’s decision to temporarily suspend visa on arrival (VoA) for 18 countries DOES NOT affect holders of Russian passports. Russians can still visit Thailand for 30 days without visa."

 

No wonder they come.....

And same situation I'd too!

That quote is from a story in the early days of Covid restrictions so almost 2 years before Russia invaded Ukraine.

 

https://www.thephuketnews.com/confusion-over-entry-requirements-for-russians-as-thailand-cancels-visa-on-arrival-for-18-countries-75231.php

 

I've been wondering, does anyone know (roughly) what percentage of the Russians in town are of the Refugee / Draft Dodger / Fleeing (and their partners and families included) category that will wish to stay here long term or very long term? I can only guess. My guess would be about a third. But it would take people that are Russian or really plugged into the Russian scene here to give a more educated answer.

 

It's worth noting that in other locales that have been flooded with effects of Russians fleeing, the rents have skyrocketed for everyone else, and there is a lot of backlash devoping. Particularly Georgia and Turkey.

 

Could such a thing happen here?

 

It's also worth noting that in preparation for new major mobilization, Russia is now instituting "appointments" for crossing land borders in an effort to clamp down on fleeing and be ready to stop people they want to draft or imprison.

 

I mention that because as land crossings are restricted, destinations that you FLY to like Thailand may become more popular.

 

20 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

I've been wondering, does anyone know (roughly) what percentage of the Russians in town are of the Refugee / Draft Dodger / Fleeing (and their partners and families included) category that will wish to stay here long term or very long term? I can only guess. My guess would be about a third. But it would take people that are Russian or really plugged into the Russian scene here to give a more educated answer.

 

It's worth noting that in other locales that have been flooded with effects of Russians fleeing, the rents have skyrocketed for everyone else, and there is a lot of backlash devoping. Particularly Georgia and Turkey.

 

Could such a thing happen here?

 

It's also worth noting that in preparation for new major mobilization, Russia is now instituting "appointments" for crossing land borders in an effort to clamp down on fleeing and be ready to stop people they want to draft or imprison.

 

I mention that because as land crossings are restricted, destinations that you FLY to like Thailand may become more popular.

 

One thing you maybe aren't considering is that among the people you see as Russian there probably are other nationalities. I guess there must be a number of Ukrainians too.

15 minutes ago, tgw said:

One thing you maybe aren't considering is that among the people you see as Russian there probably are other nationalities. I guess there must be a number of Ukrainians too.

Sure, but Russians tend to be richer than Ukrainians, and Ukrainians have better options for being treated as actual refugees. 

Of course Ukrainian military age men are fighting for the survival of their country so the vast majority have stayed. So their refugees are mostly women and children. 

This is why I'm asking if any people reading this are close to these communities. I think they would have a better idea of what percentage are fleeing the war and what percentage regular holiday.

I've noticed that Russians really do a birds of a feather thing while abroad, to help each other out.

In Georgia, my impression is 90 percent people fleeing.

It's obvious it's less than that here, but I'm curious how much less. 

On 1/12/2023 at 2:32 PM, fasteddie said:

No worries, Pattaya hasn't been slaughtering the people of the Donbass since 2014.

Same old propoganda tale about 8 years ) But not enough to justify the attempt to eliminate the whole Ukrainian people. 

3 hours ago, tgw said:

One thing you maybe aren't considering is that among the people you see as Russian there probably are other nationalities. I guess there must be a number of Ukrainians too.

I don't know that.... can we expect them to get along? Ukrainians are less able to pack up their belongings and have the means to fly to live here. 

I regularly hear farangs talk negatively about Russians. I personally don't have any negative experience with them. I actually like them. I will not be influenced by any political whining.
 

4 hours ago, peter zwart said:

I regularly hear farangs talk negatively about Russians. I personally don't have any negative experience with them. I actually like them. I will not be influenced by any political whining.
 

There is a very big difference between liking some Russian people and liking the genocidal fascist politics of Putin.

I've had both good and bad experiences with Russian people here.

If you've never had a bad experience I would say you're very overdue or don't have very much exposure.

I was on a baht bus yesterday and witnessed a group of Russians being harangued by a European guy speaking English, calling Putin an a**hole and questioning why ordinary Russians didn't rise up and throw the tyrant out. A Russian guy who spoke English tried to calmly diffuse the situation, to no avail, and the Russians got off the bus more, I think, just to extricate themselves from the situation.

Do people think it a good idea to question aggresively any Russians they come accross? I wouldn't do so but I apply that approach to all regardless of nationaloty.

2 hours ago, champers said:

I was on a baht bus yesterday and witnessed a group of Russians being harangued by a European guy speaking English, calling Putin an a**hole and questioning why ordinary Russians didn't rise up and throw the tyrant out. A Russian guy who spoke English tried to calmly diffuse the situation, to no avail, and the Russians got off the bus more, I think, just to extricate themselves from the situation.

Do people think it a good idea to question aggresively any Russians they come accross? I wouldn't do so but I apply that approach to all regardless of nationaloty.

The Euro guy sounds like an A hole for sure but I don’t see anything wrong with more discreetly talking to Russians about politics. 

2 hours ago, champers said:

I was on a baht bus yesterday and witnessed a group of Russians being harangued by a European guy speaking English, calling Putin an a**hole and questioning why ordinary Russians didn't rise up and throw the tyrant out. A Russian guy who spoke English tried to calmly diffuse the situation, to no avail, and the Russians got off the bus more, I think, just to extricate themselves from the situation.

Do people think it a good idea to question aggresively any Russians they come accross? I wouldn't do so but I apply that approach to all regardless of nationaloty.

Russians should not be blamed for the actions of their government. If anything I respect them for leaving.

6 minutes ago, ozimoron said:

Russians should not be blamed for the actions of their government. If anything I respect them for leaving.

But a lot of them actually support the war, even those who are fleeing. They want Putin to make Russia great again.

1 minute ago, JoseThailand said:

But a lot of them actually support the war, even those who are fleeing. They want Putin to make Russia great again.

They likely do. I see plenty of Russians who appear to have money just making the most of the chance to get out of Russia for the winter.  A lot of those attitudes can be sheeted back to the press. The elderly also have fond memories of the soviet era just as elderly Americans yearn for the 50's.

14 minutes ago, JoseThailand said:

But a lot of them actually support the war, even those who are fleeing. They want Putin to make Russia great again.

Definitely true but most that do will be smart enough to lie to westerners while outside of Russia.

They seem like family people haven't ever caused trouble as far as I can see and have some of the most beautiful women if you're hanging out on a lounger in Samed watching them pass you by. Thailand's getting smart now attracting money from countries that might be unwelcome elsewhere, legalising weed and kratom and probably casinos next and didn't spaff a fortune up the wall over covid pretty much letting the people fend for themselves. Their future is looking a lot healthier than ours back home.

11 hours ago, peter zwart said:

I regularly hear farangs talk negatively about Russians. I personally don't have any negative experience with them. I actually like them. I will not be influenced by any political whining.
 

It depends on Russians' own political whining. If they insist that the war is justified and "Ukraine belongs to us" I would stay as far away from the as possible. There are lost and lots of those people even among the emigres who just want to avoid the draft even if they are supportive of other people shooting the 'khokhols' as they call them.

On 1/8/2023 at 8:56 PM, Bassosa said:

Can't blame him. Thailand kinda starts to suck after a few years. We all know that.

Go back home and discover a whole new level of suck

4 hours ago, champers said:

I was on a baht bus yesterday and witnessed a group of Russians being harangued by a European guy speaking English, calling Putin an a**hole and questioning why ordinary Russians didn't rise up and throw the tyrant out. A Russian guy who spoke English tried to calmly diffuse the situation, to no avail, and the Russians got off the bus more, I think, just to extricate themselves from the situation.

Do people think it a good idea to question aggresively any Russians they come accross? I wouldn't do so but I apply that approach to all regardless of nationaloty.

Aggression almost never works but it is safe to assume most of them support the war. Of course not knowing the individual's opinions one should refrain from making too many assumptions. The Russians I saw in Pattaya a few years ago seemed to represent the (lower) middle classes who had some resources. Not the lowest classes of course, who have to stay home and whose life is a continous struggle.

1 minute ago, rabang said:

Aggression almost never works but it is safe to assume most of them support the war.

More likely that the Russians are in Thailand to avoid being called up to fight in the war 

1 hour ago, ozimoron said:

Russians should not be blamed for the actions of their government. If anything I respect them for leaving.

Not if they do it only for selfish motives like avoiding the draft. I mean supporting the war but asking others to do the fighting is anything but respectable.

1 minute ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

More likely that the Russians are in Thailand to avoid being called up to fight in the war 

Exactly, their main motive. Fleeing Russia does not mean they are against the current politics.

4 minutes ago, rabang said:

Exactly, their main motive. Fleeing Russia does not mean they are against the current politics.

It would be better if everyone just got on in Thailand and didn't continue their Country's disagreements , or should Russians and Americans be on the beach front fight each other having fist fights ?

I'll take them over Chinese any day of the week

13 minutes ago, rabang said:

Not if they do it only for selfish motives like avoiding the draft. I mean supporting the war but asking others to do the fighting is anything but respectable.

I would imagine the draft dodgers are against the war. The elderly who are fleeing the winter maybe not so much.

20 minutes ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

It would be better if everyone just got on in Thailand and didn't continue their Country's disagreements , or should Russians and Americans be on the beach front fight each other having fist fights ?

Well said sir. One of the great things about Thailand is on the whole everybody minds their own business and allows you quite a degree of freedom denied you in your home country. Long may it continue.

16 hours ago, Jingthing said:

I've been wondering, does anyone know (roughly) what percentage of the Russians in town are of the Refugee / Draft Dodger / Fleeing (and their partners and families included) category that will wish to stay here long term or very long term? I can only guess. My guess would be about a third. But it would take people that are Russian or really plugged into the Russian scene here to give a more educated answer.

 

It's worth noting that in other locales that have been flooded with effects of Russians fleeing, the rents have skyrocketed for everyone else, and there is a lot of backlash devoping. Particularly Georgia and Turkey.

 

Could such a thing happen here?

 

It's also worth noting that in preparation for new major mobilization, Russia is now instituting "appointments" for crossing land borders in an effort to clamp down on fleeing and be ready to stop people they want to draft or imprison.

 

I mention that because as land crossings are restricted, destinations that you FLY to like Thailand may become more popular.

 

I already started a thread highlighting  the rivers of gold immigration officials are going to get very soon as hordes of Russians start paying tea money to remain here on expired tourist visas.  They will also be working illegally to try and support themselves.  Even more opportunity for tea money.

 

More than a decade ago when I lived in Phuket, the ED visa was the Russian prostitutes and illegal workers visa of choice.  So much so that Phuket immigration clamped down and started requiring proof of attendance to classes and also implemented announced school inspections.

 

I imagine the language schools are doing very brisk business already.

 

What ever happened to McWalen....?

The Western media has taught us well to hate Russia

and Putin.

Things are not what they seem, Putin is a moderate while

the US is the agressor, with over 100 wars since WW2,

and has become the most disrespected nation on the planet.

I would expect Thailand will become a full member or BRICS

and move away from US influence.

Watch the once great Dollar go down the plug hole.

2 minutes ago, talahtnut said:

The Western media has taught us well to hate Russia

and Putin.

Things are not what they seem, Putin is a moderate while

the US is the agressor, with over 100 wars since WW2,

and has become the most disrespected nation on the planet.

I would expect Thailand will become a full member or BRICS

and move away from US influence.

Watch the once great Dollar go down the plug hole.

Moderates commit war crimes now? What about the mass rapes and murders of women and children in Bucha? Were they fake western media news?

2 hours ago, Sametboy2019 said:

I'll take them over Chinese any day of the week

 

Why do you say that?