TikTokker Anastasia Martynova (27) from Hilvarenbeek gets a lot of hate reactions to her videos, because of her Russian origin. It hurts her a lot that Russian citizens are being looked at skewed by the war. “It’s very high on me.”
With 328,000 followers, Anastasia from Hilvarenbeek is a well-known TikTokker. Where her videos are normally cheerful, that has changed in recent days. Anastasia is Russian and is very concerned about the war in Ukraine. “Because nobody wants a war, not even the Russian people,” she says firmly. “It’s the government’s fault.”
The 27-year-old gets a lot of reactions to her TikTok videos. “People ask what I think and what side I’m for, but there are also a lot of hate reactions in between. That hurts me a lot, because I want this to stop as soon as possible.”
Not only Anastasia has to deal with this. “I was supposed to pick up my Russian passport at the embassy today, but it’s closed because it’s not safe. If they were open today, I don’t think I would have done it either. I feel ashamed of my origin. “
That is why the TikTokker hopes that the Russian people will stand up en masse, even if that is at the risk of their own lives. “People tell me to do something, but there are brave people in Russia who are protesting and they are being arrested just like that. Maybe it will help if we all stand up.”
A major concern of the Russian is her family who still live in the country. “I have not been to Russia for two years due to the corona crisis. I thought I would visit my family soon, but that is not possible now. I am worried about them. My grandfather is 82 years old so I wonder if I can still see my grandfather can ever see.”
Anastasia has a message to all people who respond to her videos. “We should never judge each other on where you come from.”
Anastasia shows her grief in emotional videos on TikTok and Instagram.