Faces of Conflict: Student concerned about political, social conflict in Russia

His home isn't under attack. Its residents don't live with the threat of bombs or kidnappings or torture. But there is conflict, nonetheless. There are divisions.

And Lev Lvovskiy hasn't entirely escaped them — even here in Iowa.

'There actually is a big political conflict within Russian society,' said Lvovskiy, a doctoral student in economics at the University of Iowa Henry B. Tippie College of Business. 'There are people who don't talk to each other because they have different political opinions about Ukraine.

'In Iowa City, there are Russian families who don't talk to each other because they have differing opinions about Ukraine,' Lvovskiy said. 'I don't talk with people who support Putin.'

Lvovskiy grew up in Perm — the last major city in the European part of Russia, sitting on the banks of the Kama River near the Ural Mountains. He earned bachelor's and master's degrees in mathematics and economics from Perm National Research Polytechnic University before moving to Iowa in 2011 to launch his doctoral studies.

But his parents and sister remain in Russia, which in 2014 capitalized on anti-government protests and unrest in neighboring Ukraine by sending in troops to wrest control of the Crimean region. Russian President Vladimir Putin argued for Crimea's need to join a 'strong and stable sovereignty,' and Russia annexed the peninsula after Crimeans voted to join the Russian Federation in what media outlets reported was a 'disputed local referendum.'

Along with the political dispute came heavy violence on the ground — Russian-backed separatists battled the Ukrainian military, resulting in more than 21,000 injuries and at least 9,160 deaths. The United States — working with other European powers — brokered a cease fire more than a year ago, but the United Nations has reported numerous violations, including 'occurrences of indiscriminate shelling.'

Russia's military actions in Ukraine prompted several governments, including the United States, to apply sanctions. Russia countered with sanctions of its own, including a ban on food imports from the European Union, United States and other nations.

That, according to experts, has caused the Russian ruble to plummet, sending the nation into a financial crisis. And although Lvovskiy said he isn't necessarily worried about his family's physical safety right now, he does worry about the country's economic stability — the ability for residents to meet basic needs.

'It applies to practically everybody in Russia,' Lvovskiy said. 'All prices in stores increased, and the real value of wages decreased for practically everybody — 99.9 percent of population.'

Over the past few years, the Russian currency has dropped to historic lows without increases in worker pay to counter the impact.

'The real income of most Russians decreased significantly — by 20 to 70 percent,' Lvovskiy said.

When Lvovskiy left Russia, the political climate was calm.

'There were not that many hot supporters of Putin,' he said. 'And not that many haters of Putin.'

That, in part, was a reflection of a growing economy.

'Although people knew that there was some corruption and there were some problems with human rights, people didn't care much about it,' Lvovskiy said.

When Russia took action in Ukraine in 2014, Lvovskiy said, many civilians initially focused their concerns on the military actions and ground-level conflict.

'But nowadays, more and more people are concerned with the economic situation,' Lvovskiy said. 'Which doesn't mean they blame Putin.'

Country ties to Faces of Conflict

*Source: Council on Foreign Relations. Other country profile information from CIA World Factbook. Map by John McGlothlen / The Gazette

Hence, the gaping political divides that have emerged between families who trust the government and those who — whether due to financial woes or international concerns about war — simply don't.

'Four years ago, people mainly didn't care about what's happening,' Lvovskiy said. 'Nowadays, every conversation eventually touches issues of Putin or policies or government policies or the situation in Ukraine or Syria.'

Tensions have flared to the point of severing families and dividing friends. Lvovskiy said he's on the anti-Putin side and sees some of the leader's behavior as 'kind of insane.' He believes Crimea could have been annexed democratically — without use of force.

'But because Putin did it like this, not according to international laws, then all of Russia has to suffer,' he said. 'The whole country has to suffer because of some insane policies.'

And Lvovskiy said he typically doesn't want much to do with those who disagree — even here in Iowa City.

'I usually don't talk to those people — I avoid them,' he said. 'It's not that hard for me because this division is not just about political issues …

. It's more about sanity. The ability to think. And usually there is nothing to talk about with these people.'

Because Russia wasn't experiencing much political, social or military conflict at the time Lvovskiy left, his choice to enroll at an American university was rooted more in a pursuit of top-notch education.

But events that have occurred in Russia since — relating both to its political and military actions and its financial crisis — will affect his decision about when, or whether, to move back.

'Theoretically, I could see myself back in Russia — it's hard,' Lvovskiy said. 'I think there would need to be some changes before I went back.'

For example, he said, freedom of speech, for the most part, used to be widely respected and upheld. That, he said, no longer is true.

UI international students

4,540 international students in fall 2015, including 2,651 undergraduates, 1,469 graduate and professional students, and 420 students in post-graduation training

Source: University of Iowa. Chart by John McGlothlen / The Gazette

Consider an economics professor in Russia who was fired and ended up fleeing the country after criticizing the government and its policies, Lvovskiy said.

'I will have to see what is happening in Russia before going back,' he said.

Being an economist, Lvovskiy said, Russia's financial climate also will weigh into his decision about what to do after he graduates in spring 2017.

'It will depend on where I can get a job,' he said.

Lvovskiy said he definitely misses some aspects of his home and culture. Like fried fish that's not exorbitantly priced. And the more clear delineation between social and economic classes.

'Like, you would never meet professors in Russia who would talk about soccer — educated people don't discuss or follow sports, they talk about paintings or concerts they went to,' he said. 'I actually like that more, just because people can find company.'

Lvovskiy said he keeps close tabs on Russian happenings and international actions, and will continue to do so with interest — including Putin's prospects for a fourth presidential term in 2018. A recent government-run poll showed 74 percent of Russians support for a fourth bid.

The big question, according to Lvovskiy and UI professor and Russian native Artem Durnev, is what happens when the Putin era ends — even if that end involves his death.

Durnev said a post-Putin regime could be more destabilizing and potentially devastating than any negative fallout of a Putin administration.

'My concern is not what's happening now,' he said. 'My concern is what is going to happen thereafter. Because, fortunately or unfortunately, we all die one day.'

Throughout history, Durnev said, powers that emerge after the fall of authoritarian regimes have been worse than the rulers they replaced.

'The danger of Putin falling out of power is bigger than the danger of Putin staying in power,' he said.

Lvovskiy seconded those worries but noted growing concerns around a continuing Putin administration — particularly when it comes to the economy.

'The problem is more in trend,' he said. 'The trend is going down, and it doesn't look like the government is going to do anything to stop it.'