Ilia left the country alone, against his parents’ will. He is living a disordered life around the world and dreams of the United States. We met for the interview the day before he left for Mexico. His goal is to cross the border illegally and ask for political asylum in the USA. He could not choose his destiny, but still wants to write the end he wishes for his story, no matter how dangerous it can be.

He speaks an excellent English and can’t wait to tell his story. The hope is that his experience can change something, though smaller, in this world. The most amazing things of talking with him? His smile, Ilia is always smiling. Even when, during the interview, melancholy and pain for the choice he made were clearly visible in his eyes, the sadness didn’t win. And never will.

What’s your story?
I’m Ilia Chistov and I was born in Saint Petersburg. I come from Russia, where I used to live a simple life. I had a work and a family, friends, a girlfriend, and I had a flat where to live. But then the war started and everything just changed abruptly. It happened when we were all sleeping. I got up and I opened the news. I saw what was going on and I was totally shocked.

I spent a week wavering on what to do. I could not simply stay at home and watch at this fucking news. So, I decided to go to a rally in the center of the city. There I was caught by the police, and I spent my night in jail. I had to pay a fine, around 200 dollars, to get free. As soon as I was out of prison, I bought a flight ticket, because I had already understood what was about to happen. In such a situation you know what will happen and they are terrible things. It was obvious that it could have ended up like this, even before the war. Now I’m just sure that I was right.

So I was obviously scared, also because I was aware of how they treat people who are against the government, like me.

I can barely imagine how difficult it was to make the decision to leave. What did you tell your friends and your family? And what did they say to you?
Honestly, I had no time to inform all my friends I was leaving. It was an impulsive decision, I only had five or six hours to pack my backpack and to leave the country.

My family did not agree with my choice, because they are pro-government. They didn’t want me to leave but my decision was taken. Since we had just a few hours before my departure, they could only accept my choice. Of course, we still keep in touch, but not so often as it could be. It is really difficult to talk with them because they have the mindset of Russian propaganda.

I was forced to leave all I had: my family, my friends, my girlfriend. It was a sad moment.

Have you ever thought about fleeing from Russia also before the invasion? And would you define yourself as a free person now that you left?
Yes, I was thinking about leaving from a while. We also discussed it with my girlfriend, because she had to decide what to do in case I left.  In the end it really happened but she didn’t come with me. At first, we decided to keep staying together, but later we broke up.

It’s a sad story but now I’m free, for sure I am. You know when I felt this freedom? It was when Putin declared the mobilization in my country. I was here in Türkiye and I thought I should have no fear about it, because I was not in Russia.

As you can imagine, we cannot fail to talk about politics as well. Were you interested in politics in Russia?
Not always, I just used to watch news sometimes.

So, what was the spring that let you to raise up and protest?
It all started a long time ago, when I watched the video “He Is Not Dimon to You” published by Alexei Navalny. It was in that moment I started to think that my government was not as good as I thought before. That day my mindset radically changed.

Most of the people that will read this interview are used to having freedom of speech. I believe it is very interesting for us to get how is the life under a continuous propaganda and how is it possible to escape from it, as you did. How does it work? Is there an exact moment in which you realize what you are told is manipulated?
You know, I think I was never really touched by Russian propaganda, because I have never watched much television. But my parents are and so I know there is a difference between the news that are circulating on Telegram channels or independent media and the official one.

Every time I have the occasion of listening to what Russian politicians say, it is a funny moment, because I always think “what a bullshit are you talking about?”. This is because I am able to see the situation from another side.

Do you think that many people can see the situation “from the other side”?
Yes, of course. Otherwise, there would be no protests against the government and no people like me, with this mindset.

Also, Putin is not so popular now. But I believe he started to lose consensus a long time ago, even before the war started. There were a lot different new laws that were terrible. But the only thing people can do in my country is to eat and to say nothing.

Now that you’re free to call it as a “war”. Would you define what’s happening as the “war of Russia” or the “war of Putin”?
Of course it is the war of Putin! No one wanted to make this war in Russia.

As you know Europe has issued several sanctions against Russia, what’s your opinion on them?
Yes I know, but I feel they are not working as good as it could be. Sanctions just accumulated in these years, but nothing really changed. I cannot see any changes. I think the West is only hurting itself.

Last question is about your future. Now you’re here in Istanbul. It is neither your first nor your last destination. What’s in your plans?
You are right, I left Russia on the 3rd of March. I first went to Kyrgyzstan and then to Kazakhstan. It was very difficult to travel by myself and go through many obstacles, also under the economic aspect. But I’m working and so I’m managing to do that.

Nonetheless I have a precise plan for my future. I have already bought a ticket for Mexico, from there I will enter in the USA as an illegal immigrant and I will ask for political asylum.

I can only wish you good luck my friend. As all the readers of this interview will do. Is there a message you would like to send them?
I just want to say that Russians are lovely people and we were not asked of this war. It happened without our will and just because of our government. I only hope it may be the peace in the whole world.

Interview by Alessandro Ceschel