Russians in exile in Turkey’s Antalya

Antalya's beaches have always attracted Russian tourists, but since Russia's full scale invasion of Ukraine, around 50,000 Russians made this Turkish beach resort their new home. They have turned Antalya into somewhat of a mini Moscow, with Russian shops, schools and even a theater where children perform in Russia. Andrei fled Russia because of the war. He founded this place to help others like him stay connected to their roots despite being in exile. Attendance at his theatre is now dropping as Turkish authorities have stopped renewing residency permits to the many Russians here. It seems that suddenly officials woke up and decided that all Russians had to be kicked out. Everyone, without exception is being rejected and leaving. Laws in Turkey change frequently. We're uncertain about what the future holds for us. For now, we're here legally, but anything could happen. Rental prices in Antalya have surged nearly 400% since 2022. That's partly due to a general inflation crisis in the country, but this real estate agent says the influx of Russians has also had a huge impact on the local housing market. It all changed when the Russians first came here and the prices just went super high. The economy since then has just been like steady increasing with all the prices for everything. But the Turkish locals here, their salaries are still pretty low. The housing crisis has had a huge impact on the local population. Last September, Genghis and his family were evicted because his landlord wanted to triple his rent, which as a Baker, he could not afford. Outraged, he is now campaigning for the deportation of all foreigners. I don't see anyone smiling here because the Russians have really heard the Turkish people with their presence. It's almost like we're refugees in our own country. Some Russians, like Andre, say they would be at risk if they return to Russia. Others, like Valentina, simply want to hold on to the life they've built up here. This is their country. They have the right to decide how to deal with foreigners, of course. But it's a pity that people have to leave because you get close to people and the children get used to their friends. Well, this is how life is now for dozens of Russians each day. Exile and the Turkish Riviera is coming to an end. Not all of them return to Russia, however. For those who can afford it, the top destinations now include Dubai and Bali.