"[T]he exiled Russians need to adapt to the societies where they have settled. They need to follow local rules and laws, and put up with local views about Russia – there is no avoiding that. However, their hosts should allow them to be themselves – Russian Russians – not just Russian-speaking Europeans.

Ultimately, Europeans’ approach should be to provide space for Russians without over-investing in them or instrumentalising them. [...] For now, exile is the only place where there can be a Russian debate about the country’s political system, how to fix it, and how to atone for its crimes. Parts of their soul-searching may connect with the discourse in Russia, although there is no guarantee of this. But above all, Europeans should not view them as a column that will smash the Putinist regime. Do not embrace them as such, do not project your hopes onto them, and do not try to micromanage Russian politics with the help of exiled political leaders (even if they ask you to).

The rationale for welcoming Russians should be that Europe is Europe: a place that provides shelter for refugees and a home for honest debate."

https://ecfr.eu/article/caution-and-embrace-how-europeans-should-treat-exiles-from-putins-russia/