Canadian who moved his family to Russia for ‘traditional values’ says he no longer recommends it: permanent residency would require signing a Defense Ministry contract — Meduza
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Canadian farmer Arend Feenstra, who moved to Russia through a streamlined immigration program for citizens of “unfriendly” countries who share “traditional values,” has complained that he cannot get a permanent residence permit. The news outlet Nizhny Novgorod Onlain drew attention to his YouTube video.

Canadian farmer Arend Feenstra, who moved to Russia through a streamlined immigration program for citizens of “unfriendly” countries who share “traditional values,” has complained that he cannot get a permanent residence permit. The news outlet Nizhny Novgorod Onlain drew attention to his YouTube video.

Feenstra received a three-year temporary residence permit in Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod region in early 2025. He then brought his wife and eight children to Russia and began farming.

But Feenstra has now learned that to replace his temporary residence permit with a permanent one, he must sign a contract with Russia’s Defense Ministry.

  • some_guy@lemmy.sdf.orgEnglish
    18·
    4 hours ago

    Thoughts as I was reading this:

    He then brought his wife and eight children…

    This is not someone who should be taken seriously. Not normal.

    He also said his family no longer recommends that other foreigners move to Russia because the authorities keep changing the rules and “there’s no way forward.”

    Haha, loser. Imagine finding out in 2026 that the Russian state is corrupt.

    Since November 2025, foreign men ages 18 to 65 who are deemed fit for military service have been required to sign a contract with the Defense Ministry to obtain a permanent residence permit in Russia. People who moved to Russia through the “traditional values” program are not exempt from this requirement.

    Go get killed for the state, moron. Why do you think they let you in? Because they’re nice and friendly? They need cannon fodder, you dolt.