There were normal diplomatic disagreements that all allies have. And consider the source of that statement. Yeltsin’s critics would have included any anti-democratic groups. This was a period of unprecedented cooperation and trust that was growing until Russia turned its back.
Shit, I don’t even think it has to be subtle. People emigrate all the time for a variety of reasons. And most of them are much less compelling than “I’m surrounded by people who might decide to murder my entire family any day.”
They have no responsibility to stick it out and take the risk just because other people, including myself, don’t want to see the settlers win.