This is me speaking as someone who thinks that Putin’s war in Ukraine is a crime against humanity.
But surely, the thousands of Russian citizens trapped overseas in tourist destinations with no access to their money and no way to get home are not to blame for it.
https://abcnews.go.com/Travel/wireStory/cashless-flightless-russian-tourists-stuck-thailand-83405843
Think maybe we should find a way to cut these specific people a break, or screw 'em?
Doesn’t getting deported usually include a ride home?
They probably deserve a break . . . but if I were the inevitable host country, I’d probably be asking Russia to pay their way home, in a stable (IE non ruble) currency, or provide. And I somehow doubt that the current Russian gov’t is interested. Alternately, make arrangements to pick those citizens up themselves… but again, doesn’t seem to be a priority.
It’s a crappy situation for a LOT of people right now.
They’re not being deported as they haven’t violated Thai law, AFAIK.
And, you know… If Trump comes back into power in two years and does something really stupid even by his standards, we could be looking at similar sanctions imposed on us by our former allies.
I was more thinking that if they run out of money and can no longer support themselves, they could go home via deportation. I’m aware this is a shitty situation for these people, having their vacations cut short, but it’s not nearly as shitty as having your country invaded and fellow citizens killed.
Standard disclaimer: INAL. AFAIK, deportation is still something ordered by a court. Those denied admission to the country upon immigration check are not deported; they’re merely denied admission and ordered on their way.
What those Russians can do is appeal to their embassy for emergency assistance, such as a return to Russia. Good luck with that.
Sanctions always have undesirable effects on people not responsible for the government being sanctioned, and many observers have long opined that they frequently do more harm than good; Jimmy Carter among others criticized sanctions on North Korea has having essentially no impact upon the leadership but exacerbating the humanitarian crisis of severe famine on the populace. Being stuck on vacation in a foreign country with no way to get home certainly sucks but it isn’t even on the scale of starvation. Perhaps the international community can take seized assets from Putin-affiliated oligarchs and put a small amount of it toward care and feeding of those stuck abroad…after, of course, seeing to the needs of the millions of Ukrainians forced to flee their country with little more than pets and children because of an unprovoked brutal war launched by Russia.
Stranger
Sanctions don’t just allow countries to take full ownership of Russian oligarchs’ planes, homes, and boats. While the assets are frozen, they still technically belong to the oligarch. A freeze simply means that the owner can’t sell or transfer ownership.
Instagram (owned by Meta) has I think gone too far. They will delete/ban message and people who call for violence against anyone, but will not enforce any action if the call is against Russians. Sorry but that’s just a massive own goal. Perfect fodder for Russian propaganda.
Exactly to handle situations like these, is the reason why russian embassies exists in these countries. I ask every russian tourist to go there and ask for guidance and cash advance. It is probably only a couple of 1000 of them. The staff at the embassy will gladly take care of them and organize flights back to russia (oh… wait …) … well maybe the bus then.
while there, the could also let their embassies know what their feelings concerning bombings of hospitals are … now that they have seen “objective” information on the war.
Believe me: that information/feelings get reported back home
source: me, having worked in an embassy for a couple of years
I feel for them, but…like everyone who headed off at the very first opportunity, I don’t want to see you whining because stuff changed and now you’re inconvenienced! Boo Hoo, who could have predicted things could change so quickly?
Sorry, but they have international news in Bali. If you’re Russian and seeing events unfold, and your choice is to stay where you are, well, then, you definitely have some ownership in finding yourself in such circumstances.
To be fair, if I had to choose between being stranded in Bali or return to a heavily sanctioned Russia, I’d stay too. Only difference is I’d avoid complaining about my ‘hardship’ on the news.
Putin doesn’t give a shit about them, and they’re HIS people. The number of Ukrainian refugees who have lost their homes and loved ones now number in the MILLIONS. Russian tourists? Boo hoo, cry me a river! 
Exactly. Generally less than does indiscriminate bombing but of course people across Russia are going to be negatively impacted by the impacts of sanctions in many ways, people who have nothing to do with the choices made by their leadership. People across the world will be impacted, wheat supplies interrupted will lead to greater hunger, energy supplies interrupted will leave some shivering. On that scale a few upper class Russians stuck in resort hotels or getting put up somewhere discount, and a few Thai hotel chains not collecting on some money owed is very minor.
Sanctions are not a precision target weapon, just a less blunt one than bombs. Inconveniencing Russians who can afford luxury vacations is likely more the desired target than many others who will be impacted.
We could offer them all free airfare to Ukraine. Think they’d take it?
Had the world imposed similar sanctions on the US when we invaded Iraq under fabricated pretense it could have prevented years of death and expense in the Middle East.
Ultimately, it is only the Russian people themselves who can deal with Putin and his enablers. Even if we could win a conventional war type invasion of Russia, we’ll never try that because Russia is a nuclear power. Anyone from outside Russia who tried to topple Putin militarily risks becoming a target for Russia’s nukes.
But the one city that Putin can’t nuke is Moscow.
Sanctions that hurt the regular everyday Russians suck, but they can get rid of them by getting rid of Putin.
Except that the people you really want to target are the oligarchs and the military, who will be more able to get rid of Putin than the average citizen. This other stuff is collateral damage. However, since the Russian media still left is lying about the war, having the average person feel some pain probably helps in convincing them that not everyone loves this expedition to Ukraine for peace and freedom.
A lot of the sanctions are coming from companies also. I think maybe they wonder what would have happened if there was more pushback against 1930’s Germany.
Inspired by this:
I think London should seize the mansions of all the oligarchs and turn them into refugee housing for displaced Ukrainians.
I have no experience with Russian embassies or their priorities, but I have years of experience with American embassies. Taking care of stranded tourists is NOT why embassies exist, and while they will assist the odd tourist who is in a bind, they do not have the cash or resources to take care of a couple of thousand people.