The Reprehensible Treatment Of Russian Expats In Europe
By Eric Le Roy
Content 18+ I am American born, and though I have not lived in the US for years, my passport is still worth a chunk of gold. It enables me to walk free in this world almost without question. And as tired as I am about race-baiting gasbags talking about ‘white privilege in America – an anachronism if ever there was one) – there is no question that “American privilege” exists. I am among its grateful beneficiaries.
My Russian wife Liubov is not so lucky. She, like all Russian people old and young now living abroad (away from the ‘Motherland’) for various reasons, some having to do with the war, others not, has found nothing but roadblocks thrown up in front of her just because she is Russian. In this essay, I will discuss the plight of innocent Russian people (Russian diaspora if you will) that touches all corners of the planet. No doubt some of them still support the present regime; many others do not. But that is beside the point, really, because my democratic spirit tells me that everyone is entitled to think and say (without starting a riot) what they want. This is what Democracy is supposed to be about – and proud of being so – therefore, I would never deny anyone (and that includes Russians) their right to disagree with me.
Here is some information which I personally am not pleased to have found out about because, in my judgment, it goes against the democratic ideal and makes these nations look just as arrogant, wrong-headed, and needlessly cruel as the repressiveness of Russia itself. Admittedly, the nations listed below have a lot of ‘history’ with the Soviet Union, most of it dodgy at best and extremely unpleasant at worst – and there can be little doubt that these old animosities have resurfaced in accordance with the sanctions.
1. Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania)
- Visa Restrictions: Banned Russian citizens with Schengen visas for tourism, business, and cultural activities. (RFERL)
- Residency Challenges: Latvia requires Russian residents to pass language exams or face deportation. (FPRI)
- Sanctions Enforcement: Tightened scrutiny on banking services and property ownership for Russians.
2. Czech Republic
- Citizenship Ban: Proposals to freeze citizenship applications for Russians indefinitely. (DW)
- Educational Limitations: Restrictions on Russian students in technical fields due to EU sanctions. (DW)
- Prosecution of Pro-Russian Sentiments: Legal penalties for publicly supporting Russian actions in Ukraine. (Spectator)
3. Norway
- Entry Restrictions: Banned Russian tourists from entering with EU-issued visas. (AP News)
- Tightened Controls: Introduced measures to scrutinize Russian nationals’ economic activities and property ownership.
4. Finland
- Property Ban: Plans to prohibit most Russian citizens from purchasing property, citing national security concerns. (Reuters)
Before I go on with my general argument, allow me to review the situation my wife has been forced into by Russia and by those who have reacted against Russia by imposing sanctions. First, I want to say that, by and large, I approve of sanctions because I think Russia’s invasion of Ukraine must be countered with measures that leave no doubt as to their intentions. In other words, since nobody wants World War III (despite the Kremlin’s wild and irresponsible threats to blow up the planet), the next best thing is to try to break the country economically. And, like the grip of a python, it seems to be working, slowly draining Russia’s resources and, it is hoped, eventually its resolve.
The problem is that the sanctions, often as not, are targeting the wrong people.
My wife moved to Varna, Bulgaria, 10 years ago. I stayed in Moscow and worked for the next three years because I could earn a lot in Moscow. The ruble was stable at that point, though not nearly as strong as when I first arrived. So we maintained a ‘geographical marriage’ until we bought a house in a village and my presence was required because it was too much for her alone. After her first arrival in Bulgaria (I accompanied her), we both opened accounts in the Raiffeisen bank. This was pre Maidan, and so Liuba had no problem opening an account. Rubles could be turned to leva (Bulgarian currency) at any exchange kiosk.
Then came the invasion and the sanctions. Suddenly Liuba, because of her Russian nationality, was not allowed to access her own account. Finally, the bank relented and allowed her to make limited withdrawals after some obligatory paperwork. But then, Raiffeisen sold the business and the bank became ОББ. Immediately, they canceled Liuba’s account, which had a lot of money in it. Why? Because of her Russian citizenship. No matter that her account had been opened during peace times, no, fuck that, the account was closed. So we went there prepared for World War III ourselves, and, fortunately, the bank gave us all the money in cash.
I still make rubles from my Russian students, but it is no longer possible to change them to leva, dollars, or anything else here in Bulgaria. (I found a way.) Then the Russian tax office started stealing money from my wife’s account claiming she owed for back taxes, which was a colossal pile of the worst smelling shit because she hadn’t even been in the country for 10 years except to renew her passport and pension card, and the only thing she had ever owned in her life was a one room apartment in Omsk. So the government started stealing money from her account, including half her 14,000 ruble pension, which is not worth the entrance fee to a public toilet in real money. Many questions as to why have gone unanswered. Russia. Simply Russia. So the increasingly stringent Russian laws which allow the government to rob its citizens who choose to live abroad (if they are branded as ‘foreign agents’ – an essentially meaningless term that the government applies to anyone whose opinions it dislikes) PLUS the penalties that Russian citizens now have to endure in Europe simply for the crime of being Russian (no matter how much they hate the war) – means basically that these blameless people are taking it up the ass from their own dystopian country and from their European hosts as well.
And they have done NOTHING wrong.
So now let’s examine the impact all this is having and we will soon see how stupid it is and how, as usual, the European response is counterproductive.
Indirect Impact on the Russian Regime:
- These measures primarily affect civilians, many of whom oppose the war or have no direct connection to the Kremlin.
- Alienating ordinary Russians could reinforce anti-Western sentiment and support Kremlin propaganda.
- Strengthening Russia’s Economy:
- Policies limiting migration may inadvertently keep skilled professionals and human capital in Russia, enabling the state to mitigate labor shortages and sanctions. (Reuters)
- Diverting Attention from Diplomatic Solutions:
- Focusing on punitive measures for individuals can detract from broader efforts to engage diplomatically and pressure the regime directly.
- Ethical Concerns:
- Blanket policies targeting all Russian nationals raise questions about collective punishment and the erosion of democratic values in the West.
So let’s look at these one by one. For Russians who have left their country there are usually two reasons, and sometimes the two become one because they overlap: (1) better career opportunities; (2) disapproval of the war or fear of being drafted into the army. The first are usually prepared to make the emotional adjustment of living in a foreign culture. They have weighed everything up, and that is their decision. Usually it’s about increased salary, job security, and chances for advancement. They are prepared to be flexible. The second group may feel tentative; they are only leaving because of the war. This should be obvious to the country they migrate to; if not it should have been made obvious when they were allowed in. But leaving home was a desperate measure. They don’t know if they have made the right decision.
In such cases, wouldn’t it be wise for the authorities in their new ‘home’ to treat them with compassion and give them every reason to decide they had made the right choices? It makes sense to me. But if, on the other hand, they find that their lives are rendered unreasonably difficult, even unbearable for no other reason than their nationality (and when they make it clear that they object to the goddamned war), isn’t likely that such unjustifiable mistreatment might make them say, “Well, maybe Russia is right about these Westerners. Maybe I was better off in Russia.” And to think – these are the same countries that have welcomed far less desirable immigrants, including criminals. Speaking solely for myself, if I immigrated to a NATO country, for example, because I despise Russia’s war of aggression only to find myself roadblocked, insulted, and ostracized by the very people whose side I am on philosophically, I just might say, “Well, FUCK you too!” and go back home.
This is one reason why targeting innocent Russians who live or come to live abroad makes no sense whatsoever.
The second reason makes sense economically. Isn’t it counterintuitive to impose sanctions in order to hurt Putin’s economy and then turn right around and deny entrance or make life impossible for exactly the same skilled workers that Putin wants to keep at all cost to further the war effort? If I were NATO, I would be begging these skilled workers to come, just to get them out of Russia. Why on earth let in useless hordes from the Middle East and yet bar the door to Russian professionals?
Third, singling out harmless individuals such as my wife and hundreds of thousands just like her is like smacking a kid when you are afraid to fight the adult. It would be a much wiser tacticy to help the immigrants (having vetted them of course to make sure they weren’t spies or poisoners) to focus on the broader issues of diplomacy. Russians who are needlessly frustrated in their efforts to reestablish themselves abroad are likely to give up in dismay and go home, tail between their legs. I personally have a couple of pro-war, pro-Putin Russian friends who love to point this out – how many Russians, having been abroad for a spell, can’t wait to come home – which, in the minds of my friends, offers absolute proof of the shittiness of the decadent West.
But perhaps the biggest point I can make has to do with democracy itself. Is it for real, or does it involve a lot of false advertising? For how can a blind, collective policy of indiscriminate (aside from the fact of their nationality) punishment possibly promote the espoused ideals of democracy?? I have noticed that when I argue about the war with my Russian friends, they always have five stock answers: (1) fake news (pertains to anything negative reported about Russia; (2) nobody knows (typical Russian response); (3) everything is the fault of the West – the US, UK and NATO – these are the reasons for ALL of Russia’s problems (VERY Russian response); (4) THEY do it too, it’s not just US!); (5) Who cares?
They do it every time, trust me. (They refuse to acknowledge any imperfections on part of Russia, and I find this very frustrating. It nullifies any point in having the conversation.) But let’s look at #4 – the one I have italicized. This one says, in effect, You are no better than We are, so what gives you the right to point fingers at us? Democracy is a sham, a lie, it works according to a double standard. Your ‘democracy’ claims to be one thing – good and glorious – and yet the record shows that you are no good, you are fake.
And so what are the great democracies doing to combat this accusation? Well, with regard to Russian immigrants, they are going out of their way to prove the Russian critics and cynics right. Just when the West is presented with a golden opportunity to show Russia how great life can be in a ‘free’ country, what do they do? They impose one restriction after another on people who have done Nothing Wrong. They go out of their way to make Russian expats miserable instead of inviting them to a new and better way of life.
Now how flawed is that logic? Punish Putin by shutting off the chances to thrive of people who oppose Putin, or who are seeking a better life? It seems to me a seriously mistaken strategy. In fact, damned foolhardy if the idea is to punish the high ranking Russians. They are sitting pretty, believe me. Black caviar, the best vodka and cognac, and the finest Slavic women the Orthodox God ever created.
I will close with a lengthy quote from a bright – dare I say brilliant – Russian student who has lived in Prague and studied at university there for several years. I will call her Sveta, though that is not her real name.
The Czech Republic was among the first countries to ban all types of visas for Russian citizens, and I believe prospective students were the ones most affected by this decision. I still find it difficult to understand what kind of threat a young boy or girl poses when dreaming of studying at a Czech university.
This week, the Czech Republic became one of the first European countries to temporarily deny the right to apply for Czech citizenship for Russian citizens aged 15 and older. They argue that such a measure will protect the country from Russian espionage, but to me, it seems unreasonable. To be eligible for citizenship, people need to spend 10–12 years in the country, during which they are continuously monitored by the Ministry of the Interior and other institutions. Now, they are being declared a threat to a country where they have invested significant amounts of time, effort, taxes, and resources.
Personally, I never had any illusions about obtaining a Czech passport, but I didn’t expect the time to come so soon when I’d have to seek another country to move to. When discriminatory laws like these are promoted and supported by a hypocritical government that continues to sponsor the Russian economy through the purchase of gas and oil, I can no longer feel safe. I can’t be sure that one day they won’t decide that Russians don’t deserve not only citizenship but also any form of residency.
It’s truly disheartening to have your life dependent on the decisions of a group of men in suits, and it’s a shame that they believe they are acting in the best interest of their country.
—
