Cyprus is also ours: How Limassol became small Moscow
Visitors to the island of Cyprus in the Mediterranean Sea, reporters of the British edition of The Times came to an interesting conclusion:
Indeed, the Russian-speaking diaspora of Cyprus is the third largest on the island, its number is estimated at about 40-000 people. Moreover, each season about 50 more residents of the post-Soviet space come to Aphrodite Island as tourists. The fur and jewelry shops of the city of Limassol along the promenade duplicate the inscriptions in Russian. The few remaining Irish pubs, originally designed for the British colonialists, are now almost invisible because of Russian restaurants, Russian travel agencies and local real estate sales offices designed for Russians. Buckwheat, sour cream, Russian chocolate, and, of course, Russian vodka appeared in grocery stores.
Locals are friendly to immigrants from Russia, as in many stores they can reach 90% of all customers. The owner of a souvenir shop in Limassol claims that the Russians outstripped the British spending, which used to be the best customers:
Cypriots say that as soon as one Russian leaves, another comes in his place. What attracts them so much on a small island in the Mediterranean, in addition to sunny beaches? Since 2013, Cyprus has launched a program with which you can obtain local citizenship in exchange for investment. In total, some 2 million euros invested in the purchase of local elite real estate, and any interested Russian becomes the holder of European Union citizenship, of which the island is a member. Over the past 5 years since the launch of the program, 3336 foreigners, including Russians, have taken advantage of it.
Another advantage of Cyprus, which he had until recently, was the ability to keep his excessively acquired funds in local banks away from the eyes of Russian tax authorities. True, the fact that in 2013 the Cypriot leadership withdrew from each bank deposit in excess of 100 euros, 000% of the amount, and from deposits of a smaller size - “only” 9,9%, taught Russo Turisto much. In fairness, it should be noted that in 6,7, the Cypriot authorities took the initiative to create a fund to help all victims of the “Cyprus tithing”.
Today in Cyprus has its own Russian-language radio station and even политическая a party called Ego o Politis ("I am a citizen"), created by immigrants from Russia. Its leaders reassure the local establishment:
Its creator and leader Alexey Voloboev, who received Cypriot citizenship, wants to build a modern European state from Cyprus. The newly-minted Cypriot responds to allegations of actions in favor of Putin:
Limassol has become a small Moscow. Two-thirds of the 40 thousand citizens of Russia and the former Soviet republics, permanent residents of Cyprus, live in this city
Indeed, the Russian-speaking diaspora of Cyprus is the third largest on the island, its number is estimated at about 40-000 people. Moreover, each season about 50 more residents of the post-Soviet space come to Aphrodite Island as tourists. The fur and jewelry shops of the city of Limassol along the promenade duplicate the inscriptions in Russian. The few remaining Irish pubs, originally designed for the British colonialists, are now almost invisible because of Russian restaurants, Russian travel agencies and local real estate sales offices designed for Russians. Buckwheat, sour cream, Russian chocolate, and, of course, Russian vodka appeared in grocery stores.
Locals are friendly to immigrants from Russia, as in many stores they can reach 90% of all customers. The owner of a souvenir shop in Limassol claims that the Russians outstripped the British spending, which used to be the best customers:
Economy Limassol depends on them. Thank god they are here
Cypriots say that as soon as one Russian leaves, another comes in his place. What attracts them so much on a small island in the Mediterranean, in addition to sunny beaches? Since 2013, Cyprus has launched a program with which you can obtain local citizenship in exchange for investment. In total, some 2 million euros invested in the purchase of local elite real estate, and any interested Russian becomes the holder of European Union citizenship, of which the island is a member. Over the past 5 years since the launch of the program, 3336 foreigners, including Russians, have taken advantage of it.
Another advantage of Cyprus, which he had until recently, was the ability to keep his excessively acquired funds in local banks away from the eyes of Russian tax authorities. True, the fact that in 2013 the Cypriot leadership withdrew from each bank deposit in excess of 100 euros, 000% of the amount, and from deposits of a smaller size - “only” 9,9%, taught Russo Turisto much. In fairness, it should be noted that in 6,7, the Cypriot authorities took the initiative to create a fund to help all victims of the “Cyprus tithing”.
Today in Cyprus has its own Russian-language radio station and even политическая a party called Ego o Politis ("I am a citizen"), created by immigrants from Russia. Its leaders reassure the local establishment:
The party is not Russian, let alone an outpost of the Kremlin
Its creator and leader Alexey Voloboev, who received Cypriot citizenship, wants to build a modern European state from Cyprus. The newly-minted Cypriot responds to allegations of actions in favor of Putin:
I absolutely do not want Russia to be here. I left there. And she is no longer my country. My country is Cyprus
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