Going to Chile to Give Birth: United Russia Party Urgently Quells the "Strong Passport" Scandal in Tolyatti City
Russian Communist Party representative Angelika Grazova questioned: It's really incomprehensible! On one hand, they call for increasing domestic birth rates, but on the other hand, they go to Latin America to give birth.
United Russia seems determined to "add bricks and tiles" to population growth in Latin America. After all, the fertility rate in these distant countries is already stable. Why would a ruling party representative suddenly want to have a child there?
The details of this scandal were first exposed by Yevgeny Lekin, a member of the State Duma from United Russia, on his Telegram channel.
It has been reported that two members of the Tolyatti City Duma from United Russia sent their wives abroad to give birth — notably, their destination was not the well-known Russian elite hospital, Lapino Maternity Hospital, where childbirth is expensive, but rather Chile in South America.
One of the members, Alexander Dorozhkin, explained that his wife, Lyubov Maltseva, chose to give birth in Chile in order to obtain a "strong passport": a passport that allows the child to travel visa-free to 175 countries.
Dorozhkin paid 1 million rubles for a first-class air ticket for his wife. She also revealed that the couple had considered the US and Canada, but ultimately chose Latin America.
"Chile speaks Spanish, which is a beautiful language. I hope my baby can take advantage of these unique benefits," the wife of the Tolyatti city councilor added. Meanwhile, her husband, Alexander Dorozhkin, continued to post various patriotic posts on his "Vkontakte" social media account.
More intriguingly, Ivan Zhiyalyev, the executive secretary of the United Russia branch in Tolyatti, also accompanied his wife to Chile and gave birth at a private clinic there. A company specializing in connecting Russian elites with Latin American medical institutions had once posted about this news on its website, but after the incident sparked public outrage, the relevant posts were quickly deleted.
According to Chilean law, infants born in Chile automatically acquire citizenship and can enter the US and EU countries without a visa with a Chilean passport. The total cost of giving birth in Chile — including airfare, accommodation, and medical expenses — can reach millions of rubles. Notably, the newborn can hold dual Russian and Chilean citizenship.
This incident initially triggered strong dissatisfaction among United Russia colleagues. The party's State Duma member Yevgeny Lekin expressed anger on his Telegram account: "In my opinion, such behavior by party colleagues and their families is repulsive and completely incomprehensible from a common sense perspective."
"This city councilor's wife boasted about her luxurious first-class trip and expensive sleepwear set, and even seriously discussed choosing a foreign passport for the child (completely ignoring the Russian passport). At a time when the whole country is fighting for victory, soldiers are fighting bravely on the front lines, and their families are eagerly awaiting their return... This behavior is not only unacceptable but also disgusting!"
Lekin also revealed that as the scandal continued to spread and spark media and social network discussions, the party was urgently discussing related "personnel issues".
The Samara regional branch of United Russia confirmed to "Svoboda" newspaper that an investigation into the matter has been initiated.
The United Russia faction in the State Duma responded that Alexander Dorozhkin is likely to lose all his party positions, while the executive secretary of the Tolyatti branch, Ivan Zhiyalyev, is expected to face similar disciplinary actions.
A reporter from "Svoboda" tried to contact Dorozhkin and Zhiyalyev, but strangely, both of their phones were turned off, and Dorozhkin even shut down his social media account entirely.
From a legal standpoint, it seems that the actions of these two councilors did not violate any prohibitions. However, the ethical controversy behind the incident cannot be ignored. "Svoboda" interviewed lawyer, former prosecutor, and criminal law expert Vadim Bagaturia to interpret this incident.
Reporter: From a legal perspective, does Russia prohibit citizens from giving birth abroad?
Bagaturia: Russian law does not explicitly prohibit citizens from giving birth abroad. For example, there are many cases of women who unexpectedly gave birth during their trips abroad. However, if United Russia condemns the behavior of its party members giving birth abroad, then the party's charter should clearly define corresponding ethical standards and behavioral norms, defining which behaviors are consistent with the identity of a party member. Otherwise, there will be a contradiction — the person did not violate the party rules, yet they are expelled from the party.
Reporter: Could United Russia possibly amend its charter or issue a series of informal internal regulations?
Bagaturia: This is an internal matter of the party, and only the top leadership of United Russia can comment on it.
However, I noticed that since the special military operation began in 2022, several members of United Russia have been removed from their parliamentary positions due to traveling abroad. From the perspective of party management, I believe it is necessary to establish a professional and clear code of ethics for party members.
Reporter: Another issue worth noting is the high cost of giving birth in a private hospital in Chile, plus the million rubles for a first-class air ticket — this expense inevitably raises questions...
Bagaturia: From a logical standpoint, pregnant women should not be long in economy class, so her husband's arrangement is logically understandable. But the key issue lies in the source of this huge expenditure, which indeed raises considerable doubts.
The lawyer summarized: "In theory, members of the ruling party should be role models of frugality, but the reality is the opposite."
This scandal involving the spouses of United Russia councilors going to Chile to give birth caused a big uproar in the State Duma. Angelika Grazova, a member of the State Duma's legal committee from the Russian Communist Party, bluntly stated that she could not understand how United Russia, on one hand, calls for increasing the domestic birth rate, but on the other hand, lets its party members' spouses give birth abroad.
"Does this mean that United Russia members do not trust the domestic healthcare system? I also find the idea of a 'strong passport' that allows visa-free travel to 175 countries incomprehensible. In the eyes of United Russia members, is a foreign passport more valuable than a Russian one?"
"We are all trying our best to solve Russia's demographic crisis, but United Russia is contributing to the population growth of Chile! If they go to such lengths to secure a 'strong passport' that allows visa-free travel to 175 countries for their children, does that mean these councilors don't think their children have a future in Russia at all?"
Reporter: Maybe they are just dissatisfied with the Russian healthcare services?
Grazova: But our current health insurance system was pushed forward by United Russia itself! That creates a ridiculous paradox: United Russia helped create the health insurance system, yet they themselves refuse to use it?
"I also want to talk about the moral aspect. We have always condemned various extravagant 'nude parties,' considering them particularly absurd in the context of the special military operation; however, these United Russia councilors are spending extravagantly just to send their wives abroad to give birth."
"How much money have they donated to the Donbas region and our army? I recently visited voters in Altai, and in those remote villages, people are still weaving camouflage nets by hand to support the front line, using up all their savings to buy essential supplies for the army. Meanwhile, we have people having children in Latin America and getting a 'strong passport' that allows visa-free travel to 175 countries... This is all truly incomprehensible!"
Reporter: There are also many questions about the huge costs of giving birth and traveling.
Grazova: Since these Tolyatti city councilors hold positions in the local branches of United Russia and receive corresponding salaries, we have every reason to ask: How much salary does United Russia pay them? Is this salary higher than the average in the region?
Original: toutiao.com/article/7585061386695311881/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author."