With his own sitcom, a thriving stand-up career and various films in the works, Sasha Nezlobin was one of the biggest comedy names in Russia. But in the space of just a few months, he went from writing a new show to fleeing his home country and the wrath of Vladimir Putin.
In February 2022, the comedian found himself frantically packing a suitcase to escape Moscow with his family. He had criticised Russia’s prosecution of those speaking out against the war with Ukraine – and Nezlobin, his wife and their young daughter were headed for the last direct flight to New York before Europe and North America closed their airspace to Russian planes.
