In 1922-1923, more than 200 representatives of the intelligentsia, including philosophers, writers, and engineers, were expelled from Soviet Russia. This event was called the "Philosophical Ship." Leon Trotsky, one of the leaders of the Bolsheviks, characterized this action as "Bolshevik humanitarianism," noting that expulsion was preferable to execution, although it was impossible to tolerate these people.

The expulsion process was organized with a certain sequence. Each expelled individual was summoned to an investigator, where they were offered two options: leave the country voluntarily or go to places of detention. Those who agreed to leave signed documents stating that if they returned, they would face the death penalty. Next came the choice: to leave at their own expense or at the state's expense. In the latter case, the expelled waited in prison until the moment of departure but traveled in comfort.

Many preferred to leave at their own expense despite financial difficulties. They had only a few days to raise funds, obtain a visa, and organize the trip. This required significant effort, considering that holding currency was punishable, and a visa could only be obtained through voluntary application.

Fyodor Stepun, one of the expelled philosophers, recalled that they were allowed to take a minimum of belongings and a small amount of currency. Sergey Trubetskoy noted that they had to sell their property for a pittance to secure themselves for the initial period abroad. Mikhail Osorgin described how the expelled organized themselves into groups to address organizational issues, and even the GPU could not assist in their "voluntary" departure.

This expulsion became a symbol of the cruelty and pragmatism of the Bolshevik regime, which sought to rid itself of dissenters without resorting to extreme measures. Despite the difficulties, many of those expelled were able to adapt abroad and continue their activities, preserving Russia's cultural heritage.