Asylum and Migration
The Influx of Foreigners Changed the Popular Resort Town of Antalya. 'Russians Love Homes with Views, Especially of the Mountains'
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Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, tens of thousands of Russians have settled in Antalya, significantly raising rental prices and altering the city's character. Real estate agent Halit Mert notes that buyers prefer properties with mountain views, while immigrant Mariia Ündemir highlights the area's safety and quality of life. Russians now form the largest foreign community in the province, leading to increased Russian signage and language use. However, tensions regarding the war persist; Ündemir observes that many locals avoid political discussions to prevent conflict, and the local Friendship and Culture Association has been instructed by the Russian ambassador not to speak with journalists.
Ozetta summarises; the reporting is the newsroom's