Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “shared values” visa scheme is designed to encourage Western immigrants. (Sputnik: Gavriil Grigorov via Reuters)
Some were fleeing “wokeness”. Others said they were sick of racism. Dozens of Aussies have even applied.
But for Westerners seeking a better life in Russia, things can backfire — badly.
It’s been a year since President Vladimir Putin introduced his “shared values” visa scheme.
The program is supposed to make the move easier. To be eligible, Mr Putin said, applicants must “share traditional Russian spiritual and moral values”.
In May, the Kremlin revealed 1,156 people had applied for it, including 33 Australians.
While the country’s state media outlets pump out puff pieces on “anti-woke” immigrants gushing over their new lives, they seldom tell the full story.
Take Francine Villa, for example.
She moved to Moscow from Miami in 2019 — before Mr Putin’s new scheme was introduced — seeking to escape racism in the United States.
Earlier this month, the Black woman took to social media with a bloodied face, saying she’d been attacked by bigoted neighbours.
“Today they attacked me with their fists,” she said. “I was with my child. Right in the face.”
Ms Villa was born in Russia to American parents and moved to the US as a child.
In an interview with state-run RT a year after moving to Moscow, she said: “I feel free living in Russia because in Russia, no matter what time it is I can walk outside and I’m safe.”
In a video uploaded on Instagram this month, Ms Villa says her neighbours changed the locks to her apartment and cut off her electricity.
A 2021 report by Amnesty International said “violent racism” was “out of control” in Russia.
It said attacks, including killings, were reported with “shocking regularity” and that “anyone who does not look typically Russian” was at risk.
“Even ethnic Russians who are seen as sympathising with foreigners or ethnic minority groups, for example, fans of rap or reggae music, members of other youth sub-cultures, and campaigners against racism, have also been targeted as they are perceived as ‘unpatriotic’ or ‘traitors’,” it said.
While official numbers are not made public, anecdotal evidence suggests there are few Aussies remaining in Russia, and only a handful left in Moscow.
Of the 1,156 applications for the “shared value” visas announced in May, most (224) were from Germany, while Latvia (126), the US (99) and France (95) were also well represented, according to the Kremlin update.
Australia was 11th on the list, and little is known about those who registered.
Abbess Maria has been scathing of Australian society. (Supplied)
In October, an order signed by Mr Putin announced an Australian woman, Veronica Miros, had been granted Russian citizenship, along with several other people from a range of countries.
The 68-year-old is a trained GP and now known as Abbess Maria, leading a Russian Orthodox convent in Sydney’s south-west.
The document does not say whether the citizenship was bestowed as part of the “shared values” visa scheme.
Abbess Maria was contacted for comment. It is understood she is still residing in NSW.
In an interview published online last year, she was quoted as saying Australian society was becoming “almost satanic”.
“People are all tattooed from head to toe,” she is quoted as saying in the interview, which was translated from Russian to English.
“Christianity is dying out. Many Catholic churches and monasteries are being closed.
“Previously, seeing us on the street, young people called us ‘witches’.
“Now it has become even more difficult due to the geopolitical situation in the world. Because we are Russians and members of the Russian Orthodox Church, we are not always treated well.”
Meanwhile, an American family that used the “shared value” visa scheme this year have been making headlines for all the wrong reasons this month.
Derek and DeAnna Huffman decided to move from Texas to Moscow’s outskirts with their three daughters, who they claim were being subjected to “LGBT indoctrination” in the US public school system.
The Huffmans have made multiple appearances on Russian state media and are documenting their new life on a YouTube channel.
In a video uploaded in March, Mr Huffman explained his decision to relocate, and was particularly scathing of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in the US.
“As a white family, [we were] being told we’re racist and not given the same opportunities because of the colour of our skin,” he said.
“My daughters growing up in this world — we just couldn’t have it.”
In a bid to expedite his family’s citizenship applications, Mr Huffman joined Russia’s military.
On May 26, a video was uploaded to the channel in which DeAnna announced her husband had signed a contract with the army.
“This was not a decision that was made lightly,” she said, arguing the lure of citizenship rather than just visas would be worth the risks.
In other videos, she complains that Derek had been sent to the front lines of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — something the family did not think would happen.
“He feels like he’s been thrown to the wolves,” Ms Huffman says in one clip.
Despite the criticisms, the Huffmans continually reiterate they are excited about their prospects in Russia.
While there had been reports Mr Huffman had been killed on the front lines, he spoke to his wife over the phone in a video uploaded to the family’s YouTube channel earlier this week in which he said uploading video from the front lines could be dangerous and may reveal his precise location.
His voice can be heard saying: “This is a war zone, I can’t make a video, but I’m glad you’ve gotten to speak and you’ll be able to at least post our conversation and people will know I’m alive.”
