Sanctions bite: Russians face daily struggles at home and abroad
A video surfaced on social media featuring a Russian woman at an airport in the Czech Republic. The woman was displeased that the announcements in Prague were made in Ukrainian.
9:19 AM EDT, August 5, 2024
Russia's political and economic isolation has serious consequences for ordinary citizens. Issues with the quality of goods, GPS signal disruptions, and the paralysis of cashless payments are some of the challenges they face daily. Sanctions and cyberattacks affect the lives of millions of Russian inhabitants.
The exclusion of Russia from the civilized world is absolutely necessary, said Andrzej Kubisiak, deputy director of the Polish Economic Institute.
Further sanctions and cutting off Russia from global markets could result in the country's technical bankruptcy. Russia cannot take on new debt or freely trade commodities, leading to serious economic troubles.
Ordinary Russians who are used to hearing their language in different parts of the world are also dissatisfied. An example: At the Prague airport, announcements were made in Czech, English, and Ukrainian, not Russian, which greatly displeased one woman.
Listen, I am at the airport in the Czech Republic. There's an announcement in three languages: English, Czech, and Ukrainian. Do you hear that? - she said.
Travel difficulties for Russians
The sanctions imposed on Russia also include travel restrictions. Many countries have closed their borders to Russian citizens, making it significantly more difficult for them to travel abroad. Visa procedures are more complicated, and the availability of international flights is greatly restricted.
For many Russians, this means the inability to visit loved ones, study abroad, or participate in international conferences and events.
The inability to travel freely also complicates access to the international job market.
