"Elite Talent Turning Away Saying 'Russia Is Ashamed'... Exodus Continues"

Russian Bolshoi Prima Ballerina Transfers to Dutch National Ballet
'High-skilled Workers' of 300,000 Also Leaving Russia... Departure May Continue for a While

Olga Smirnova giving an interview after leaving the Bolshoi Ballet [Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Se-eun] Stars of the Russian ballet world, including the Bolshoi Ballet, known as the "pride of the Russian art world," are leaving their homeland.

On the 15th (local time), The New York Times (NYT) reported that Olga Smirnova (30), the prima ballerina of the Bolshoi Ballet who left Russia last February, joined the Dutch National Ballet last month.

Smirnova left the Bolshoi after posting a message on her Telegram in February, when Russia invaded Ukraine, saying, "I never imagined that my homeland Russia would become a source of shame." She then sought asylum in the Netherlands and transferred to the National Ballet there.

Olga Smirnova [Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

In a recent interview, she explained why she cannot return, saying, "If I go back to Moscow, not only will I be unable to change my stance on the war, but it will also be dangerous."

Alexei Ratmansky, former artistic director of the Bolshoi and a world-renowned choreographer, also left for New York in March, abandoning a planned performance in Moscow.

Raised in the Kyiv region of Ukraine, Ratmansky said, "As long as Putin is president, I don't think I will return to Russia."

Not only Russian nationals but many artists of various nationalities are leaving Russia.

Laurent Hilaire, a Frenchman and former artistic director of the Moscow Nemirovich-Danchenko Ballet, resigned immediately after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

British dancer Xander Parish and Italian dancer Jacopo Tissi also turned their backs on Russia.

Ted Brandsen, artistic director of the Dutch National Ballet, said, "Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, we receive daily inquiries from Russian dancers wanting to join," adding, "Russian dancers complain that they can no longer express themselves as artists in their homeland."

The NYT reported that the number of Russian ballet figures leaving their homeland is expected to increase for the time being. While ballet is indeed considered a field that continues Russia's traditions, the internal atmosphere of the ballet world is described as much more progressive and international compared to other fields.

Meanwhile, not only in the arts but also in various other fields, personnel are leaving Russia.

According to a Wall Street Journal report, the Russian nonprofit organization "Okay Russians" estimated that about 300,000 people have left Russia.

These are so-called "highly skilled workers," including those in information technology, science, finance, and healthcare, who have headed to countries such as Georgia, Armenia, and Turkey.

Only in the information technology sector, about 50,000 to 70,000 workers have left their homeland, and an additional 100,000 are expected to leave this month.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.