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60,000 Russian Exiles Transform Yerevan’s Cafés and Co-Work Spaces

7/5/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Yerevan’s cafés and co-working spaces now host a growing community of Russian exiles fleeing mobilization.
Over 60,000 Russians have arrived in Armenia since 2022, many settling and working in Yerevan.
Egor left a surveillance job, entered on a one-day visa and now works as a chef while seeking citizenship.
The influx has spurred Russian-run cafés, bars and co-working spaces, making Russian heard almost as often as Armenian in the capital.

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Story summary

Yerevan’s cafés and co-working spaces now host a growing community of Russian exiles fleeing mobilization.
Over 60,000 Russians have arrived in Armenia since 2022, many settling and working in Yerevan.
Egor left a surveillance job, entered on a one-day visa and now works as a chef while seeking citizenship.
The influx has spurred Russian-run cafés, bars and co-working spaces, making Russian heard almost as often as Armenian in the capital.