
Fewer than a third of Russian citizens have ever left the country, but visas to the European Union are important for some of Moscow’s top officials, who send their children to study and live in the West.
“Many claim that only some Russians go to Europe. Rightly. But those in power don’t just travel, they move around. The breadwinner must stay [în Rusia] but he will send his children abroad,” says journalist and researcher Kamil Galeyev from the Wilson Center, citing several examples in this regard:
The grandson of Viktor Solotov, the commander of the Russian National Guard, attends Cranley School, a prestigious public high school in Great Britain that opened in 1865 and whose alumni include several people who have been knighted by British monarchs over the years.
Many claim that only a few Russians go to Europe. Rightly. But powerful people not only travel, but also move. The breadwinner of the family must stay, but he will send the children abroad. Zolotov commands the National Guard of the Russian Federation. His grandson Artem studies at Cranley School, Great Britain pic.twitter.com/gKt4Rb84S9
— Kamil Galeev (@kamilkazani) August 21, 2022
Serhiy Zheleznyak is one of the leaders of the United Russia party headed by President Vladimir Putin. His daughter Anastasia McClymont studied in London, worked for the BBC and married one of his Scottish colleagues, changing the name Jelezniak to McClymont.
Zheleznyak is one of the leaders of the United Russia party. His daughter is Anastasia McClymont. She studied in London, worked for the BBC, married her Scottish colleague and changed her surname from Zhelezniak to McClymont. pic.twitter.com/9uDVEMWzsc
— Kamil Galeev (@kamilkazani) August 21, 2022
Elizaveta Peskova, the daughter of Kremlin press secretary Vladimir Putin, has been living in France for years. She completed an internship offered by the European Parliament and then got a job at Louis Vuitton.
Dmitry Peskov is Putin’s press secretary. His daughter Elizaveta has been living in France for a long time. She completed an internship at the European Parliament, then worked at Louis Vuitton pic.twitter.com/xapmDdFnAs
— Kamil Galeev (@kamilkazani) August 21, 2022
In the second half of March, the USA introduced sanctions against Elizaveta Peskova, which she called “completely unfair” and “unfounded.”
Including the mistress of Vladimir Putin, she would live outside of Russia
Kamil Galeev, who became famous after the war in Ukraine for his analyzes of Russian society, cites another example from 2011, which, in his opinion, is very instructive.
At the time, the UK rejected the residency application of Yuriy Luzhkov, the former mayor of the Russian capital Moscow, but granted him a visa to visit his family because “of course he moved his family to London”.
This news from 2011 is very revealing. Britain refused the ex-mayor of Moscow Luzhkov a residence permit, but gave him a visa. To visit my family. Well, of course he moved his family to London a long time ago, that’s kind of obvious pic.twitter.com/bHXgwUGa1z
— Kamil Galeev (@kamilkazani) August 21, 2022
As Galeyev, himself a researcher who was born in Russia but emigrated to the USA, notes, these are only a few examples, the number of Russian officials who sent their children or entire families to the West is much larger.
Including Alina Kabaeva, a former gymnast who was for years the mistress of President Vladimir Putin, is believed to be living in Switzerland with the children she had with the Kremlin leader.
The United States imposed sanctions on Kabaeva in early August, following Britain in May and the European Union in June.
“How does the ruling class of Russia live? The head of the family, a hunter-gatherer, lives in Russia. But at the first opportunity, he will move his wife and children to Europe, and then try to join them,” says Galeev.
What are European leaders losing in the discussion about visas for Russians
A researcher at the Wilson Center, one of the most prestigious think tanks in the United States, says that discussions that European tourism is not important for Russians are missing the point.
“He is very, very important. Because the ruling class of Russia lives with the idea of moving to Europe (90%) and North America (10%),” he notes.
Among other things, Russian broadcasters tried to assure that the possible suspension of EU visa issuance to Russians would go unnoticed by the majority of the country’s residents, presenting a survey according to which less than a third of them (31%) had ever traveled. outside Russia.
Estonia and Finland officially proposed this measure to the European Union on August 9, which Dmytro Peskov immediately called “emotional”. It is expected to be discussed by member states of the community block by the end of August.
But German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the leader of one of the EU’s most powerful countries, has already spoken out against the measure, saying last week that it would prevent Putin’s critics from fleeing Russia.
He previously stated that it was “very difficult” for him to understand such requests. The head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, expressed his disagreement with such a measure.
Galeyev also mentions the example of the granddaughter of former Soviet dictator and criminal Joseph Stalin. After his death, Svetlana’s daughter moved to the USA and married an American. “So Creuse Evans, the dictator’s niece, now lives in America. Last time I checked it was in Portland, Oregon,” he wrote on his Twitter page.
PS Joseph Stalin with his granddaughter. After the death of his father, his daughter Svitlana moved to the USA and married an American citizen. So the dictator’s granddaughter Chris Evans now lives in America. Last I checked it was Portland, Oregon pic.twitter.com/pZLZTnpo1E
— Kamil Galeev (@kamilkazani) August 21, 2022
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