Why I Moved to Russia

RT (2024)

Film Review

https://www.rt.com/shows/documentary/599229-americans-moved-russia-life-stories/

Tofurious Maximus Crane is an independent American journalist who emigrated to Russia in 2023 because he wanted to ascertain the truth about the Russian Special Military Operation in Ukraine. He decided to stay after Putin liberalized immigration rules in August 2024. He interviews three other US expats about their experiences moving to Russia.

Tofurious begins by meeting with Jozef and Ann, American expats who recently moved to Russia with their six children. The couple was very concerned about gender ideology American schools were promoting without parents’ knowledge or consent. They were aware of instances where schools persuaded children as young as 12 and 13 they were the wrong gender and got them prescriptions for puberty blockers and gender altering hormones without ever notifying their parents. Joe, who is an IT manager, and Ann described feeling more relaxed in Russia, without the pervasive poverty and street violence that surrounded them in the US. Health care costs are much more reasonable in Russia and, despite sanctions, common US brands are widely available.

Jay Close was born in New York, grew up in California, and has lived in France, Australia, and Papua New Guinea. He worked as a chef for the Rolling Stones and later managed several restaurants in Moscow. At present Jay raises goats and makes heirloom cheese in the countryside near Moscow, his home for over 30 years.

Things have changed a lot since he first arrived in 1993, when the US embassy kept hassling Americans in Russia to leave. The recent US sanctions have greatly increased his business.

Tofurious also interviews Chad Hower, an American software designer and blogger granted political asylum in Russia after he refused to cooperate with the FBI in blackmailing his Russian wife’s family (who had access to classified Russian military information). He really likes Russia because there are no muggings there and no need to carry a gun.