Russians Google ‘How To Leave Russia’ While Waiting For Putin’s Surprise National Address

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers a video address announcing the start of military operations in eastern Ukraine in Moscow, Russia, still image taken from video footage released on February 24, 2022. Russian Pool/Reuters TV via REUTERS
Reuters/Reuters TV

key point

Most searches were done by residents of the Khabarovsk region bordering China
Google searches peaked at 6pm local time
Russian State Duma introduces concepts of mobilization and wartime

Google searches for “how to leave Russia” reportedly spiked on Tuesday as Russians expected a surprise speech from President Vladimir Putin.

Searches for information leaving Russia peaked around 6 p.m. local time. As reported on Mozhem obiasnit’s Telegram channel, Google Trends data shows that in addition to searches for “how to leave Russia,” searches for Russian military delays also peaked around the same time (we can explain).

The phrase “how to get out of Russia” in Google search indexes peaked on Tuesday. This came against the backdrop of news about an impending mobilization and referendum in the unrecognized republic. According to Google Trends, the peak of requests came at 18 :00 data,” the report reads.

The Telegram channel also noted that most of the searches were carried out by Russians living in the frontline Khabarovsk region in the southeastern part of the country. Khabarovsk is a city bordering China.

The Google search spike came shortly after it was announced that Putin and Russian Federation Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu would deliver national speeches on Tuesday. However, the speech was later rescheduled for Wednesday.

It was not specified what they would discuss in the speech, but the announcement came amid rumors of an imminent mobilization plan and referendum in the occupied Ukrainian territory.

Earlier in the day, the Russian State Duma introduced the concepts of mobilization and wartime in the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, which was passed on first reading in July.The new concept now strengthens criminal liability for disobedience to military orders, desertion, evasion of duties and damage to military property if “during martial law, wartime or conditions of armed conflict or hostilities” Holographic Magazine report.

In addition to these concepts, the State Duma established criminal responsibility for voluntary surrender and robbery. Russian soldiers who voluntarily surrender to enemy forces face 3 to 10 years in prison. Looters can be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison.

The new concept will apply to current Russian military personnel, reservists, contract soldiers and conscripts.