Putin comments on resettlers and accountability
During a press conference, Russia’s president addressed the issue of people who have left the country, including prominent businessman Mikhail Fridman. He stated that Russians have the right to choose where to live, but if laws are broken, there will be consequences no matter where they reside.
He emphasized that the key question is the conduct and actions of each individual. If those actions violate Russian law, then accountability applies to anyone, whether they are inside Russia or abroad. The president noted that the return of a migrant depends on behavior, and if the majority of citizens view someone as acting immorally toward the homeland, that person will feel the impact upon returning.
Why did Fridman return?
On October 9, it was reported that the businessman Mikhail Fridman returned to Russia. In a Bloomberg interview, Fridman explained that he had left England, where he had recently resided, and moved to Israel a week before a Hamas attack. Following those events, he chose to temporarily relocate to the Russian Federation.
“Now, due to the current situation, I traveled to Moscow. When conditions stabilize, I plan to return to Israel and live there permanently,” he stated. He added that his departure from the UK was due to sanctions making life untenable. The Financial Times noted that Fridman had contemplated a visit to Russia for several months and did not discuss the return with Russian officials. A Telegram update suggested behind-the-scenes discussions were ongoing to gauge public and law enforcement reactions to his arrival.
After news of Fridman’s return emerged, former Roscosmos head and a Federation Council member from the Zaporozhye region, Dmitry Rogozin, appealed to the Investigative Committee to examine whether Fridman finances the Ukrainian army, arguing that such funding could fall under strict criminal charges. This was reported in RIA Novosti.
“How can he threaten the homeland?”
On October 9, Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin press secretary, commented on the possibility of residents who settled in Israel returning. He noted that Russians live in many countries and that the Russian Federation remains their homeland, questioning how anyone could threaten the country in this context.
The following day, Vyacheslav Volodin, chairman of the State Duma, declared that those who left Russia and celebrated attacks on Russian territory would not be welcome back. He suggested that such individuals should understand that Magadan is a potential destination upon return.
Responding to these remarks, the head of the Magadan region, Sergei Nosov, stated that Magadan does not welcome vile people or traitors and urged an end to portrayals of the region as a place of exile. Peskov explained that Volodin’s comments referred to Russians with a clear antagonistic stance toward Russia. He added that Russia does not share the same path with those individuals, while noting that other displaced people always retain a homeland waiting for them.
Who is at risk in this discussion?
On October 11, Rosa Chemeris, a State Duma deputy, published remarks from a closed meeting where Volodin proposed adjusting a plan to address Russians who left for Magadan. He suggested that actions by expatriates supporting Ukraine could be treated as treason. Chemeris spoke of returning individuals who had previously supported anti-Russian statements and potentially financed Ukrainian forces as candidates for reconsideration of where they should be settled. The next day, the State Duma adopted a protocol to scrutinize the financing of the Ukrainian Armed Forces by Russians abroad, as reported by Deputy Alexander Khinshtein.
The article named several public figures associated with Russia, including comedian Maxim Galkin, TV host Ivan Urgant, blogger Ruslan Usachev, and others connected to various media and entertainment roles, as well as regional figures who have faced scrutiny over possible loyalties and statements regarding the homeland. These discussions reflect ongoing debates about allegiance, finance, and eligibility for return among Russians living abroad.