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Abstract

Political opportunities and the decision to engage in transnational activism may depend on various factors and the conditions in the host country (Chaudhary and Moss 2019; Baser and Féron 2022). I suggest taking a closer look at Georgia as a case study and the role of the host society, as it is important for understanding Russian emigrants’ “exit” and “voice” dynamics in a rapidly changing political environment. Based on qualitative research data, this paper will discuss social dynamics and divergent attitudes toward migrants in the host country that affects the visibility of diasporic activism and leads to migrants’ self-sustaining cementing their isolation. The recent political changes in Georgian society, such as the democratic backsliding and the creation of an illiberal state through the introduction of the controversial “Law on Transparency,” brought an additional sense of legal insecurity for Russian migrants in Georgia. This paper addresses the following questions: To what extent is the potentiality to exercise “voice” after “exit” affected by the complexity of relations with the host society? Why did Russian activists decide to disengage from collective actions and visible protests in Georgia and how do they explain their limited willingness to cooperate with local civil society?