Relocate To Russia

[wellington]

Set aside visa's etc, as that's just money or grease.

Wheres the 'Western Orientated' enclaves within Russia.

.

"With the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and the UK's involvement in supporting Ukraine, many people back home in Britain are curious about what life is really like here in Russia. They often ask me: Is it dangerous? Do people treat me differently becaouse I’m British? What’s the general attitude towards the UK? In this video, I’ll share my firsthand experience of living in Moscow as a Westerner – specifically, as a Brit – in 2024."

 

[manukahoney]

OK, I wrote this some time ago in a similar thread, will do that again.
DON'T.

All westerners (especially US and UK citizens) in Russia will be viewed as potential hostages for the future exchange fund. 99% chance that will not happen to you and you'll definitely have a jolly good time with local ladies while enjoying dirt cheap cost of living, beautiful nature and even somewhat decent medical help if you ever need it.
However I would not recommend going there unless you are ready to become a "useful idiot" like loudly supporting the Ukrainian invasion. And even then the chances that some overzealous local FSB agent will try to expose you as a western spy are not zero.

Answering your question - before the war St Petersburg was a place to visit or stay a while. Central parts of Moscow were also nice in spring.

I didn't visit in many years, so something might've changed.

 

[avalanche]

OK, I wrote this some time ago in a similar thread, will do that again.
DON'T.

All westerners (especially US and UK citizens) in Russia will be viewed as potential hostages for the future exchange fund. 99% chance that will not happen to you and you'll definitely have a jolly good time with local ladies while enjoying dirt cheap cost of living, beautiful nature and even somewhat decent medical help if you ever need it.
However I would not recommend going there unless you are ready to become a "useful idiot" like loudly supporting the Ukrainian invasion. And even then the chances that some overzealous local FSB agent will try to expose you as a western spy are not zero.

Answering your question - before the war St Petersburg was a place to visit or stay a while. Central parts of Moscow were also nice in spring.

I didn't visit in many years, so something might've changed.

That sounds like a lot of prejudices and unfounded fears. Would be interesting to see any cases when common westerners (e.g small-medium entrepreneurs, lawyers, engineers, ITs, doctors etc. not nosy journalists) got into trouble that you're describing.

Excluding those who were caught passing classified documents or sticking nearby places they shouldn't be around.

But I get it, if you're anxious better be on the safe side.

 

[manukahoney]

Would be interesting to see any cases when common westerners (e.g small-medium entrepreneurs, lawyers, engineers, ITs, doctors etc. not nosy journalists) got into trouble that you're describing.

There was a recent story about American-Russian women arrested and jailed for donating like $30 to Ukrainian charity. She decided to visit her relatives, didn't end well.

Again, it's not like you will be handcuffed and prosecuted straight off the plane. But if anything goes south you will have much less rights than a local (which is actually valid for many jurisdictions) and the judicial system in russia is an absolute joke.

 

[kislokan]

It is not ideal for US residents than UK so I have heard from them

 

[avalanche]

There was a recent story about American-Russian women arrested and jailed for donating like $30 to Ukrainian charity. She decided to visit her relatives, didn't end well.

Again, it's not like you will be handcuffed and prosecuted straight off the plane. But if anything goes south you will have much less rights than a local (which is actually valid for many jurisdictions) and the judicial system in russia is an absolute joke.

Well you know where you're going right? So you know what to expect from your actions, especially if they go against the local norms and laws.

> like loudly supporting the Ukrainian invasion.

not sending money to charities of an opposing country is very far from having to loudly support the invasion. normal people wouldnt do that unless they thought they were invincible

>. But if anything goes south you will have much less rights than a local (which is actually valid for many jurisdictions)

exactly. being immigrant anywhere isn't going to be pretty until you integrate

 

[manukahoney]

especially if they go against the local norms and laws.

This is the thing, the laws and norms in russia are changing rapidly and with immediate effect. And the punishment for non-violent crimes is ridiculous. Good luck trying to "integrate" into this.

And yes, there is a very similar, yet different situation in the Western countries - you can be put in jail for something you like on FB or Tweet. But in reality you will end up with a slap on your wrist especially if it's your first offence. Heck, in the UK they will need a serious reason to incarcerate you as the jails are full. There is no such problem in russia, they use their prisoners as a cannon fodder in Ukraine.

There is a saying in Russian: "If there is a man, there will be a court case". You will be breaking the laws without even knowing, you will not be prosecuted for that, but if they need - they will have all the option to pin you down.

 

[Sols]

I think it's great that Russia is making it easy for Russophiles to move to Russia. The people who adore Russia and touts its superiority now have a fantastic opportunity to live in their beloved new motherland. I think that's a beautiful thing worth celebrating. Freedom of choice is a good thing.

 

[jafo]

jailed for donating like $30 to Ukrainian charity

18 USC 2339B: Providing material support or resources to designated foreign terrorist organizations. Text contains those laws in effect on August 31, 2024

the judicial system in russia is an absolute joke.

Source: I Was Alabama’s Top Judge. I’m Ashamed by What I Had to Do to Get There. How money is ruining America’s courts. By SUE BELL COBB. March/April 2015


All countries are like this! Every SINGLE.ONE.OF.THEM! Don't be fooled by the statement, "We are the exceptional & civilized ones." That statement is for you to DROP your guard so they can KNOCK you out and ROB you!

And the punishment for non-violent crimes is ridiculous. Good luck trying to "integrate" into this.

You mean like this?

 

[John Spectre]

it doesn't matter what passport you have.
if you like russia - live there.
if you like the west - live there.

the problem is only if you live in the west, scold the west for any mistake, glorify russia, but have never even been to russia.
this is already hypocrisy, in which fairy tales prevail over reality and this is evident among some participants in this forum.
Instead of discussing real life things, blamers and praisers just repost s**t obvious propaganga in form 'We are the exceptional & civilized ones'. that don't have anything common with real life of ordinary (and not very oridinary) people in any place ofnthe world.

 

[manukahoney]

You mean like this?

Like this and more.
But it's not only "hate speech" offences. It's also business violations or disputes that quickly become criminal cases. I personally know a guy who was imprisoned for 2 years because he worked in a company that was later charged with some fraud and he was an assistant to one of the execs. He was the only one in the country they could find, so they charged him and put him behind the bars.
I also know guys who almost went to jail for using pirated Photoshop in their office. Sounds OK?

 

[JohnnyDoe]

Like this and more.
But it's not only "hate speech" offences. It's also business violations or disputes that quickly become criminal cases. I personally know a guy who was imprisoned for 2 years because he worked in a company that was later charged with some fraud and he was an assistant to one of the execs. He was the only one in the country they could find, so they charged him and put him behind the bars.
I also know guys who almost went to jail for using pirated Photoshop in their office. Sounds OK?

What about this: Child, 11, arrested in raids following Teesside riots

 

[jafo]

Like this and more.
But it's not only "hate speech" offences. It's also business violations or disputes that quickly become criminal cases. I personally know a guy who was imprisoned for 2 years because he worked in a company that was later charged with some fraud and he was an assistant to one of the execs. He was the only one in the country they could find, so they charged him and put him behind the bars.
I also know guys who almost went to jail for using pirated Photoshop in their office. Sounds OK?

These cases you are familiar with, did they happen in the West, Russia, or both?

What about this: Child, 11, arrested in raids following Teesside riots

NGL, that's a new one for me!
I read that article several times and did a deep dive into it to find out more about this 11-year-old child's case, and man, am I sorry I did!

That's some evil sh1t, even by Kim Jong Un's standards! My Gawd

 

[Dreamy]

Lol
Especially for "western" people who can not even imagine how the real life is in any ex-ussr countries and the type of mentality of that people. It could be funny if you come to moskow or kyiv just like tourist to drink / eat and have fun with girls. But regular life IS NOT the same. Google "gopniks in russia".

 

[John Spectre]

Lol
Especially for "western" people who can not even imagine how the real life is in any ex-ussr countries and the type of mentality of that people. It could be funny if you come to moskow or kyiv just like tourist to drink / eat and have fun with girls. But regular life IS NOT the same. Google "gopniks in russia".

Don't show them your cards.
They should learn from their own experience that for them (westerns), gopniks are not only guys in adidas and a cap, but also the police, border guards, taxi drivers and any other smart guy who knows that such a western sucker can be tricked out of a little (or a big) money.

 

[manukahoney]

Please google "confirmation bias". It's very easy to convince yourself that West is a shithole, there is so much "news" on the internet, just keep wallowing in the same propaganda bauble.
But make yourself a favour - learn some Russian and read some local news before relocating there. Just not the government controlled media- read some independent sources or whatever left of them.

 

[kislokan]

Just buy an island and start a micronation then you dont have to worry about western or Russian government

 

[jafo]

learn some Russian

Oh, bless your heart for the assumption—indeed, it's a classic case of "assume."

Just because we're NOT shouting "неохота" from the rooftops doesn't mean we're clueless about Russia or its nuances. Some of us might even have been there, lived there, have suppliers and clients there, even have family there, and—brace yourself—speak the language quite fluently. Imagine that!

But, here's the thing: we're not exactly keen on having our lives upended by the cancel-happy brigade who seem to have a bit of a hair dye addiction (purple color?) and a knack for confusing basic biology. We'd rather avoid the modern-day witch hunt where if you don't toe the line and parrot the narratives of the majority, your bank accounts mysteriously vanish faster than their grip on reality. So, we play it smart & cautious, keep our heads down, our guard and footwork on point, our weapons fully loaded, and let the irrational mobs exhaust themselves. It's not fear, my dear —it's strategy, specifically, The 33 Strategies of War! After all, when you're outnumbered, outgunned, and dealing with people who think facts are optional, sometimes the best move is to quietly observe and pick your battles & targets wisely.

PS. To the OCT community: There is no direct English translation for "неохота." It has a lot to do with context. You can use any translator app or site to see what it comes up with. The word is not really THAT important. It's just that someone who doesn't control the language would NOT know such a word. Please accept my apologies!

Just buy an island and start a micronation then you dont have to worry about western or Russian government

Are you trying to get us whacked?

Noreiga quickly found out that his military preferred to dance Salsa and perform in the Carnivals (Calle Arriba y Calle Abajo) and NOT fight angry armed white men!

 

[avalanche]

Lol
Especially for "western" people who can not even imagine how the real life is in any ex-ussr countries and the type of mentality of that people. It could be funny if you come to moskow or kyiv just like tourist to drink / eat and have fun with girls. But regular life IS NOT the same. Google "gopniks in russia".

Only if you consider being "gopnik" a regular life..

read some independent sources

A journalist who doesnt get paid for anything and doesnt have advertisers who pay for the show. Do they even exist?

 

[Houdini]

A journalist who doesnt get paid for anything and doesnt have advertisers who pay for the show. Do they even exist?

NO