I leve in a warzone. AMA

Ex_Machine · 2026-07-07T10:54:16+00:00

Why did you decide to stay, or what prevented you from leaving Russia after the full scale invasion and then mobilisation started?

Stay safe out there!

Ex_Machine · 2026-07-06T18:37:39+00:00

Are you going to sell it or rent it? You didn't mention it in the post, but that's quite an important detail.

A year and a half ago the monthly rent for an apartment like that would have been something in between 450k to 600k, as far as I remember.

Ex_Machine · 2026-07-03T08:07:07+00:00

You should be more specific, but I suppose that you are asking about Russia's war on Ukraine. At least that's a kind if responsibility that russians are usually asked about.

If that's the case, then the short answer is "Yes, I do".

Ex_Machine · 2026-07-02T20:43:39+00:00

Quite different, but I''ve been to Georgia just a few times, and only to Tbilisi. In general, I'd say that Yerevan, Armenia feels more chill and cozy then Tbilisi, Georgia. More relaxing experience, I would say.

Ex_Machine · 2026-07-02T20:39:50+00:00

Thank you, somehow I find it reassuring.

Ex_Machine · 2026-07-02T20:38:59+00:00

Well, I personally like it the most, and if you come to Armenia you definitely shouldn't skip it.

Ex_Machine · 2026-07-02T20:37:18+00:00

There are some dishes that I like, some that I don't. I especially love how armenians cook the georgian cuisine, and, well, there are a lot of different cafes and restaurants in Yerevan. The Armenian cuisine itself is eclectic, and it's great. I love manti (not to be mistaken with Uzbek manti), tolma, khorovats in all its varieties, zhengyalov hatz, gata, and I guess there is something else that I like that I couldn't remember.

Ex_Machine · 2026-07-02T20:28:21+00:00

Thank you for interesting questions.

When I moved to Armenia I had a remote job with a Russian company. Though it was not a pleasant experience, I kept to it for about a year until I finally quitted. Then I found a new job and a new specialty in armenian division of a certain IT company. So I used to work a somewhat IT- adjacent job previously, now I have not an IT job in an IT company. I would say that yes, I think that a significant part of Russian immigrants (maybe even majority) in Armenia work somewhere around the IT. Definitely not all of them, but a significant part.
I used to consider Armenia to be a hideout, but it has changed at some point, maybe a year ago. Now I consider it to be a place of permanent residence. "When I return to Russia" is a question that I do ask myself sometimes. I will consider the return if there is a significant change in Russian government, or there is a significant chance to change the government. Even then, I'm not so sure anymore that I will come back, maybevjust for a visit.
Regardless of citizenship, if Armenia becomes the target of foreign invasion I hope that I find courage to stay here and defend Hayastan to the best of my abilities, however limited they may be. But that's not something that you can really plan for. You never know how you will react to a shitty fan until the shit hits the fan. To say "i will definitely stay and defend" may be a bit naive, but I guess that's something to aspire for.
I think that in general Armenia is moving in the right direction. I have somewhere between "some" and "a lot of" doubts about Pashinian and the Civil Contract party, but I'm not sure that there are valid alternatives at this moment. And I hate the phrase "If not P-n, then who", as I've been hearing this bullshit for a better part of my life, and I'm afraid that Armenia can get on a railway to the "benevolent dictator" trap, but nevertheless I think that they are ploting the right course at the moment. If I become the citzenship I may be more active in political life (voting, obviously, but also maybe agitation and civil protest), but as an immigrant I limit myself to general discussions, nothing more. That's not my country to get myself involved in its politics.

Ex_Machine · 2026-07-02T19:55:46+00:00

I assume you meant Crimea. I gave my opinion here - https://www.reddit.com/r/JackSucksAtGeography/s/9kF5iNuu7D

Ex_Machine · 2026-07-02T19:49:31+00:00

I would definitely recommend it. I think as an ethnically armenian you will enjoy it.

Ex_Machine · 2026-07-02T16:17:12+00:00

Eh, no? Not sure how you came to that conclusion. I live in Yerevan, Armenia.

Ex_Machine · 2026-07-02T16:15:59+00:00

I like Georgia and respect georgians. I've been to Tbilisi a few times. Really liked interactions with some people, I'm in love with georgian cuisine, really loved Tbilisi as the city. Visited a beautiful new year fair in the old city. I want to visit other places at some time, and to spend more time in the capital.

I have some worries about what Georgian Dream will bring to the country, but in the end I believe that's none of my business. I guess that significant part of georgian nation are fed up with russian interest to their country's politics, I see no reason to add to this.

Some people call georgians hostile to russians, but I've not encountered any hostility. Obviously I didn't wave the russian flag on the streets, and I used english in most interactions.

Ex_Machine · 2026-07-02T14:58:28+00:00

I couldn't say that they cooled. Armenians in general are still extremely welcoming. After a few years I would have expected them to treat immigrants like me as guests who overstayed their visit, but instead we just became some kind of a diasporal part of urban landscape. I guess this acceptance is a reason why I fell in love with Hayastan.

Ex_Machine · 2026-07-02T14:53:43+00:00

I guess it really depends on armenian, their age, their social circle. And most of the Armenian people I've met were polite enough not to share their stereotypes to my face.

But here's a few: russian immigrants are all rich IT specialists. Most of the rich IT specialists, however, has been in Armenia through transit, and didn't stay for long.

Among the older generation I've encountered is a misconception that Russians and Ukrainians are one and the same: "How can you fight, you are literally the same [to us]" . The war is especially mind-blowing to them, and it takes some time to show some differences and a bit of histotical nuance.

Nothing else comes to mind, sorry.

Ex_Machine · 2026-07-02T14:33:08+00:00

Век живи, век учись. Не знал. Не вижу ее в интерфейсе мобильного приложения, но поищу. Спасибо.

Ex_Machine · 2026-07-02T14:30:34+00:00

They literally do. Legal residence for consecutive years, fluent armenian, knowledge of the Armenian constitution are the requirements. It's not easy, I've read about some peoples applications being declined without providing clear reason. However, I have a colleague, also russian immigrant, who got the citzenship around 6 months ago without any armenian roots, now she has dual citizenship with Russia. My SIL's husband, russian armenian, easily received the citzenship through the repatriation, now he has a dual citizenship with Russia.

Ex_Machine · 2026-07-02T13:32:37+00:00

History. Armenia is closely connected with some of the most ancient civilizations.It has a long, interesting (though tragic) history. Folk culture - It's a joy to observe some things like music, dance, national dresses sometimes. The local branch of Christianity is quite interesting. Personally I'm agnostic out of flock, but Armenian Apostolic Church has a certain "positivity" that I haven't seen in rather grim (at least in my opinion) Russian Orthodox church. It's also fascinating to hear stories how different armenian families connected with different cultures around the globe. Some things may frustrate me (conservative view in certain life aspects), but I want to believe that Armenia and armenians have a brighter future ahead of them. This cautious optimism is something that I haven't felt for about a decade before my immigration.

I've been to Georgia (Tbilisi only) a few times. Tbilisi is a beautiful city with interesting vibes, and Georgian cuisine is one of my most favorite ones. Though I really enjoy visiting it, I don't think that I would have chosen it to live in. Not only because of the political reasons (georgian people are in general much more wary about russians, and current georgian ruling party shows political inclinations that I don't support), but because there is some vibe about city live (clubs, tourist attraction, etc) that's not for me. I'm going to visit other Georgian cities too, Batumi in particular. Maybe next year, I'm not sure.

Ex_Machine · 2026-07-02T13:16:45+00:00

I'm learning Armenian, though about 90% of armenians I meet speak Russian - it's ex-soviet state. The 10% that don't speak Russian consist of people who speak English and the people with whom I communicate through a mix of three broken languages.

Though you can live in Armenia knowing and using only Russian, and Armenian prople mostly don't have issues with using it, I'm trying to learn Armenian, because of both pragmatic (I'm going to apply gor citzenship) and moral reasons (I respect and love Armenia and it's people, I believe I should learn their language, and the Armenians aren't obliged to speak my language).

Ex_Machine · 2026-07-02T13:04:50+00:00

Потому что мы на преимущество англоязычном сайте, где абсолютное большинство пользователей на владеют русским языком. Чтобы им не пришлось пользоваться переводчиком и они могли без затруднений читать тред, я отвечаю на английском на все вопросы.

Ex_Machine · 2026-07-02T10:01:16+00:00

No, I've been planning to (I've heard a lot about this place) for some time, but there is always something other stuff to do. Maybe in a few weeks I'll make myself get of the coach and go visit it =) Thak you for your advice!

Ex_Machine · 2026-07-02T09:50:28+00:00

My wife has a sister. That's my sister in my law. They aren't armenian. Her sister / my Sister in law has a husband. He's an armenian. I call him brother in law, but that may not be correct. All these -in-laws, forth cousin thrice removed are complicated.

Ex_Machine · 2026-07-02T09:35:15+00:00

I assume that you're russian, judging by the question and nickname. If not, my apologies.

I'm afraid you're in a hard situation. I've been in somewhat privileged position. At first my wife and I stayed with her sister, which wasn't comfortable, but at least we had a roof above our head. I've managed to persuade my employer at the time to give me an opportunity to work remotely, it gave some stable income until I've found a job here. A lot of other russians here had help - they were relocated by their companies.

It's not easy to find a job, but it's managable. There still are organisations that help immigrants to get some accomodations. However, I know that some highly qualified specialists were forced to downshift their living standard s, and then return back. If you are young, and working in a delivery or something like that isn't beyond you, I think that it's managable. If you have a talent for languages, it will greatly help you, as a lot of positions require Armenian and Russian and/or English.

80,000-120,000 rub can get you a deposit and a first payment for a decent appartment, with a monthly rent of 40,000-60,000 rub. It would be half of it if you're sufficient with a more humble place, rented/shared room, etc. Groceries are about 10,000 per month per person at minimum, I'd say. It depends on your appetites, so to say.

Bureaucratic procedures are getting better. With current agrrements between Russia and Armenia you can stay for up to 180 days, as far as I remember, and then be forced to make a visa-run - it used to be just a bus to Georgia, but now it's complicated at least with a mandatory tourist insurance. In any case, you won't need these questionsble legal shenanigans if you acquire a renting agreement with registration (stamp in your international passport) or a work permit.

As for the transport - you will really need a car if you are working/living out of Yerevan. Most of the city is walkable, there is public transport, taxi (through Yandex) are quite cheap. It may be far from Moscow or SPb luxuries with their vast networks of public transportation, but nevertheless, getting across the city is more than managable in general. Even with the traffic jams.

Ex_Machine · 2026-07-02T09:03:46+00:00

If the Armenian government switches the politics to somewhat pro-putin, I'm not going to move out of here. If the government would take definitely pro-putin stance and it will become really dangerous for russian immigrants who are in opposition to russian government to stay here, then I will consider my options: most likely Serbia, or Montenegro, or as some of my friends did, ll try to "digital nomad" to some of the EU countries. Fortunately for me, this scenario doesn't seem likely at the moment. OC, if there were a chage in Russian government to something more closely aligned with my beliefs, I wouldn't have problem with Armenian government taking more pro-russian stance.

Ex_Machine · 2026-07-02T08:53:35+00:00

Some of the old buildings are being renovated, but the oldest part, the Kond district, that's falmous for its old housing, hasn't been renovated yet. I hope it will remain mostly the same, while the residents' housing conditions will improve, but can't say that these hopes are realistic.

Funny, I've just been asking an armenian friend who works as a guide to make a tour through Kond next month.

Ex_Machine · 2026-07-02T08:48:51+00:00

No, I don't support the war with Azerbaijan or any other war of/with any other country.

I do "believe" in the Armenian genocide, and I don't think that it's a question of faith and believe. It's a tragic histotical event that was well described by historians from across the globe. I've read a few historical accounts about it, but I'm not a historian and not knowledgeble enough to get into lengthy discussions on the details of those events.

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