[mc32]

For one, they take their wealth and knowledge with them which adds to brain drain and anaemic economy at home.

[Viliam1234]

But they can't take the oil wells and other natural resources with them.

That's the problem of countries with many natural resources -- they can afford to get rid of their best people.

[Fins]

That would not necessarily concern Putin too much, as the ones with brains almost by definition would not be too happy with him.

[aaron-lebo]

I know you are getting a zinger in, but yesterday's HN darling might be evidence against that:

Many scientists protested, but Elbakyan didn’t understand the outrage. As far as she was concerned, Dynasty — particularly through its funding of the LMF — had spread “propaganda against Putin and the Russian authorities.” She describes Zimin’s work through Dynasty, and the organization itself, as “anti-communist,” though she’s vague about how. Elbakyan says the foundation and Sci-Hub are “ideologically opposed,” and contends that Dynasty is somehow Sci-Hub’s capitalistic foil.

[Fins]

Actually it's exactly evidence for that -- anyone who considers "anti-communist" to be a bad thing, especially so in the ex-USSR, lacks both brains and even a single shred of human decency.

Not that I thought much of her before anyway.