Russian National Olga Yelsakova Creates New Handicrafts for HDIF's Product Portfolio

Since war broke out in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Russian nationals have been flooding to nearby countries to escape possible prosecution as conscientious dissenters, journalists, opposition politicians, and tech workers. Russian citizens only need a national ID to travel to Armenia, with flights conveniently operating daily between Moscow and Yerevan’s Zvartnots International Airport.

When Russia invaded Ukraine, Olga Yelsakova and her friends converged on their central square in their hometown of Arkhangelsk to say "no" to the aggression. They were summarily detained by local police.  Soon thereafter, pressure from Russian authorities began to increased. For their safety, Olga and her family moved to Armenia. 

HDIF found Olga among a group of emigres.  Together they begin working on new products, including crocheted flower stems, hair ties, hair clips, and decorative flowerpots. According to Olga, they feel very welcomed in Armenia. They have encountered friendly people, and beautiful nature that has delighted them at first sight.

"I feel more freedom and confidence for the future here. My younger son goes to school, my elder son works in a cafe, my husband studies to get a new qualification, and I work as a part-time journalist. And we are all engaged in handicrafts to make something nice and earn extra money."

In the past, HDIF has worked closely with designated refugee groups, like Syrian Armenians, through the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR Armenia), but today it has been working with new categories of individuals who are arriving - from Ukraine, Russia and even some African countries not to mention Artsakh.

HDIF Founder and Executive Director Tim Straight states, "We want to work with any of these that just want to work to put a roof over their heads, food on the table and provide an education for their kids." 

Recently, the Washington Post, quoting preliminary data, reported that “at least 500,000, and perhaps nearly 1 million, have left [Russia] in the year since the invasion—a tidal wave on scale with emigration following the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution and the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991.”  Other reports indicate that at least 150,000 Russian professionals, and maybe more, who have fled to Armenia, often with their families.

But Russia’s loss is Armenia’s gain. The influx has helped push Armenia’s GDP growth to nearly 13% last year, even as the country remains mired in a simmering violent conflict with neighboring Azerbaijan. Meanwhile, Armenian exports to Russia tripled to $2 billion in 2022 compared to a year earlier, and remittances in the other direction quadrupled to $3.2 billion.