I suggest he takes his family to a safer place. It sucks that a country the world once saw as an ally are lining themselves with the dictatorships they once fought, but that's the last 20 years in a nutshell. Family should come first, ask him to leave.
1. If you watch the news, you would see this happening quite often in the US. From a European perspective we see this in the news. And the same pictures and clips are rolling on all channels. It's not a question if it's happening. What makes you question it?
2. If you read what he wrote he stated it was his friend, and what he is asking for is what kind of advise you can give someone in this situation.
3. US about to lose tech workers due to circumstances is not a political topic, but you are making it pretty clear where you stand.
Cool project, but if you can get the same spec'ed laptop with warranty on a slightly worse keyboard for less than this hack-job, i think i would prefer a new (thinkpad) laptop
