Meanwhile, I’d prefer to continue cooperating with my (small) Russian social circle.
What kind of cooperation do you mean?
meeting each other in person—yeah, this will be limited to your occasional visits back home
talking online—if you move too far, the time zones may complicate this
business plans—may not be possible because of sanctions; on the other hand, if the situation improves, having a foreign business partner could become an advantage
I’m unsure they have my better interests in mind
I don’t know anything about them or their advice to you, so it’s hard to say. I think the prior probability is low. People usually do what (they believe) is best for them, not for other people. Even if they want to do what is best for you, they may have a wrong idea about who you are and what you actually want. Also, people change, so even if today they have the right kind of plan, tomorrow they may change their minds.
Is there anything constructive I can do if I stay? Or is leaving the country and minimizing contacts the only ethical choice?
Unless you have a comparative advantage at organizing revolutions, I am not sure what you could achieve by staying. Leaving the country seems reasonable. I don’t see the reason for minimizing contacts, though.
And generally, if anyone recommends you to break contacts with your friends, that is a huge red flag. Unless they are all literally criminals or drug users or something like that, but I doubt this is the case.
What kind of cooperation do you mean?
meeting each other in person—yeah, this will be limited to your occasional visits back home
talking online—if you move too far, the time zones may complicate this
business plans—may not be possible because of sanctions; on the other hand, if the situation improves, having a foreign business partner could become an advantage
I don’t know anything about them or their advice to you, so it’s hard to say. I think the prior probability is low. People usually do what (they believe) is best for them, not for other people. Even if they want to do what is best for you, they may have a wrong idea about who you are and what you actually want. Also, people change, so even if today they have the right kind of plan, tomorrow they may change their minds.
Unless you have a comparative advantage at organizing revolutions, I am not sure what you could achieve by staying. Leaving the country seems reasonable. I don’t see the reason for minimizing contacts, though.
And generally, if anyone recommends you to break contacts with your friends, that is a huge red flag. Unless they are all literally criminals or drug users or something like that, but I doubt this is the case.