Magazine Flash to kindly ask me as a French citizen of Russia, on the reasons for our citizens to settle in Russia. So I set my interview below.
*
In his book 'The Godfather of the Kremlin', devoted to Russia of the 90s, the journalist Paul Klebnikov described his encounter with one of the first European expatriates in Russia after the fall of the wall. The latter, astonished, he says his first impressions on Moscow and Russia in these terms: "Girls, girls, and a whopping salary. The scene takes place in a nightclub in the Arbat, a famous street in central Moscow, while Slavic beauties sway their hips on the dance floor, his eyes reddened by the drug. That is what was in the 90s image of the new Russian "liberal" and "liberated" Communism: a giant mess, a country whose resources, energy, financial and DNA were looted, delivered to various mafias and large foreign corporations. This story you know more or less, Russia many rhyming with "weapons", "mafia", "girls Hookers," "pollution" and "vodka".
is the description of an era gone, and Russia today has nothing to do with Russia 90s. Of course prostitution still exists (as everywhere) but the girls do not smile more in principle to foreigners, expatriate salary packages have dropped significantly and the living standards of Russian men increased significantly, often exceeding those in the cities of aliens. A recent survey showed that the foreign husband was no longer a dream now only a small minority of women. And most importantly, now the Russians (women and men) can look with pride their country, which is growing at a rate Meteor. Development supported by the explosion of commodity prices but also and especially by a political power that has effective use fully the benefits of growth. Direct result? Today thousands of french resident in Moscow or St. Petersburg but also mainly in cities in Siberia and it is not uncommon to meet couples Franco-Russian and Franco-French, after living WEST, deliberately chosen to settle in Russia. Of course there is love, work, or a real interest in the country but not all. For many French, Russian now living "that Putin" is good.
And it is even a voluntary choice!
And there are reasons for this, Russia of the 2000s has certainly changed at an incredible rate, but the country has kept a soul. Russia today has countless strengths. One can cite a few: for example in Russia, no problem of insecurity, even in the distant suburbs of major cities, women take the subway or walking in mini skirt at any time, with very little risk. In Russia not repeated strikes in major cities from living normally. In cities always, stores, bars, restaurants are open 24/24, which gives an important freedom. In contrast to cities, villages have preserved a traditional atmosphere and timeless. Russia today is a subtle blend of modernity and tradition, there are both on 19 th century, 20 th and 21 th century. The country is truly multicultural and multifaith but unlike Western societies, ethno-religious tensions there exist hardly. I would add that the foreigners who make the effort to learn the language are very well accepted. Finally, Russia is a country that offers a varied life, there are oriental perfumes as West, the Caucasus and the Arctic icy hot, and a mixture of Europe and Asia. This variety reflects the size of the country that spans 11 time zones. The feeling of being in a strong, who knows where it goes and where the situation is improving, the situation changes dramatically French example and the pervasive feeling of decline that can be felt. Finally let us say, to feel in agreement with the vast majority of decisions taken by the country's political elite is a very pleasant feeling.
course, you always find foreigners, expatriates often transferred for professional reasons and who are critical of Russia. These reviews are known, and focused on a hypothetical "Putin's dictatorship." They usually arrive the in the country with a vision very formatted "Made in France", neo-colonial ('me there to show you ") and are often critical for their entire stay (in expats contracts of 2 to 4 years). For some, however, life in Russia puts the record straight and makes them aware of another reality that we can enjoy living in a managed democracy, which provides stability and freedom.
If 15 years ago, the Russians, women in head, fled Russia in search of better conditions life, while their country was in total decay. Today, many Russians abroad have already returned to Russia and hundreds of thousands of OECD citizens resident there. It is believed that this number should increase substantially in the next decade, given the strong economic forecasts in Eurasia (Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, the 3 countries of the new customs union) and relatively low in the West (America and Western Europe ). Already Russia is ranked ahead of France and just behind Germany as the IMF, the ranking of countries by GDP at purchasing power parity. For my part, as a French Eurasian is decided, I'm fine "with Putin" and nothing in the world want to go west!
0 comments:
Post a Comment