A post on the Snob blog and a subsequent interview with Radio Svoboda signaled Belkovsky's intention to apply for Ukrainian citizenship. In his column, he called it a "precedent" for the "active part of Russians who have a positive attitude toward Ukraine," but in the Radio Svoboda interview he clarified that he had "gotten carried away" in that part of the post and that his decision was not a political act.
According to Belkovsky, he would like to withdraw entirely from Russia's political information space and devote himself to literature and screenwriting. He considered such a change of role impossible in Russia and saw his future in Ukraine, which, in his assessment, "has been given a chance to become a European country."
"I don't want to turn this into a demonstration; it's not a political act. I've simply come to the conclusion that there is no place for me in today's Russia," he said in the interview.
Belkovsky also stated that he was prepared to renounce his Russian citizenship if that were required to obtain Ukrainian citizenship. "I would not want to give up my Russian citizenship, but if there is no other legal path, I will have to renounce it," he explained. At the same time, he stressed that he did not intend to engage in anti-Russian activities.
Motives and Concerns
Speaking about his reasons, Belkovsky pointed to what he perceives as a hostile attitude toward him in Russia. "I cannot feel safe in Russia, and the same applies to my relatives," he said, adding that his safety was ensured only by the fact that he is "not Khodorkovsky." He linked this to his critical stance on Russia's actions in Ukraine.
According to the political analyst, the reaction of people in his circle to the decision was positive. He noted that he did not intend to claim that he had "fled persecution," but believed that "when it starts, it will be too late to flee." He intends to apply for citizenship "as an ordinary citizen, through the normal procedure," without any special merits.
Predictions About Ukraine and Russia
In the interview, Belkovsky offered assumptions about the further development of the situation. He suggested that Transnistria might be annexed and outlined two scenarios for Ukraine: a "cold peace" if the independence of Crimea is recognized and Transnistria is not blockaded, or a continuation of Russian expansion into southeastern Ukraine. In his view, the West will not intervene.
He also suggested that the hardening of Putin's position on Ukraine might have been linked to Edward Snowden's receipt of political asylum in Russia, and that Putin would seek to show that Russia is "not so bad," combining a tightening of the screws with concessions in domestic policy.
Responding to a question about a possible refusal by Ukraine to grant him citizenship, Belkovsky said: "It is Ukraine's right to refuse me. I will start with a residence permit."
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