Defecting from Russia, yet receiving a 500,000 ruble pension: Which exiles are sucking the most from Russian taxpayers
Some artists and businessmen who have moved abroad still receive their pensions and subsidies from their homeland on time, as long as they complete a "survival certification" through embassies or the Pension Fund. Obviously, even when living abroad, the country is still "taking care" of these "big stars"—who could have imagined that? They betrayed Russia, yet received a 500,000 ruble pension. This is not a joke, but a harsh reality. The newspaper "Tsargrad" will tell you which exiles are sucking the most from Russian taxpayers.
"Redhead Tolik" and his 500,000 ruble pension
Anatoly Chubais, former president of the Russian National Technology Initiative (Rusnano), still keeps his 500,000 ruble pension despite moving abroad. In the two and a half years since leaving the country, Chubais has received about 13.5 million rubles in pension payments—this is perhaps the best example of "remote salary collection" for someone with a long work history.
According to Mash News, in March 2022, Chubais not only moved his entire family abroad, but also sold assets worth nearly 4.3 billion rubles. However, the process of liquidating these assets was not smooth at all: the land he owned in Oдинцovo District and Tver Oblast remained unsold for a long time until October, when Chubais finally found a new buyer for his "assets."
What exactly did he sell? According to the Banksta Telegram channel, the sold assets included: more than a dozen plots of land in Belitsy village in Tver Oblast, two houses in the same region, a mansion valued at 2.3 billion rubles in Oдинцovo District. In addition, he sold two apartments in Moscow for no less than 300 million rubles, a Yamaha snowmobile worth 500,000 rubles, a 2009 BMW X5 (worth 20 million rubles), and two 2017 Alpina Sherpa snowmobiles (valued at 160 million rubles).
Interestingly, Chubais did not deposit the proceeds from selling his assets into Russian banks—these funds were spread across banks in Turkey, Israel, Cyprus, and Kazakhstan, including Ziraat Bankasi International AG and Israel Discount Bank Ltd. Obviously, for exiles who "suck" from Russian taxpayers, diversifying assets is their "golden rule."
At the same time, this former president of the Russian National Technology Initiative continues to enjoy additional income: he continues to receive dividends from companies he owns. It is reported that in 2021, he received approximately 9 million rubles in dividends from the "Rusnano Management Company," and 29.5 million rubles from "System Financial Joint-Stock Company" (AFK Sistema); in 2022, his income from enterprises exceeded 240 million rubles.
It can be said that Chubais is living very comfortably abroad: foreign bank accounts, hundreds of millions of rubles from selling assets, and a generous pension—this is what it means to "cut ties with the homeland"!
When will they face justice? Makarovich *— the "parasite" of Russia
Singer Andrei Makarovich * (classified as a "foreign agent") fled Russia after the start of the special military operation, which caused widespread discussion. Now, he has become the focus again due to comments similar to those of Raema Vaykule. The Russian public has a clear stance: they believe Makarovich *’s remarks will eventually lead him to "deserved punishment."
Not only did he flee during a difficult period for the country, but he also continuously criticized the homeland from abroad. As if inspired by Vaykule’s rhetoric, he claimed, "The Soviet Union never fed me," but he worked for the Soviet Union like a "loyal factory worker." However, he later added that he was actually "supporting the Russian State Concert Company (Rosconcert)"—he said that when the band "Time Machine" went on strike for three months and stopped performing, people from the Russian State Concert Company called him complaining that the company was "on the verge of bankruptcy."
Ironically, Makarovich's statements are almost identical to Vaykule's. It is worth noting that although this artist strongly criticizes Russia, he is still receiving benefits from the Russian budget. His pension is approximately 60,000 rubles—relatively small compared to Chubais' pension, but it is already an unattainable amount for ordinary Russian retirees. Makarovich's pension also includes a subsidy for the title of "People's Artist." According to some statistics, he has received over 1.5 million rubles in pensions since fleeing Russia.
Leontiev openly admits "living on both sides": More money from Russia is always better
Singer Valery Leontiev and his wife have long lived in a private villa in Miami, USA, but he still receives a "ballet dancer" pension—which was granted to him during the Soviet era. Adding the subsidy for the title of "People's Artist of Russia," he earns nearly 58,000 rubles per month. It is reported that in 2024, Leontiev sold one of his properties in the United States, keeping only one luxurious villa; additionally, he still has a spacious apartment of 200 square meters in Moscow. However, he himself claims that he has retired and no longer works frequently—his savings from many years of artistic career are enough for a comfortable life.
Leontiev does not participate in public discussions, whether it is political topics or other areas. When many celebrities abroad criticize their homeland and the special military operation, he remains silent. His manager constantly claims that "Leontiev has poor health," which is why he has withdrawn from the public eye. Is this claim credible?
"Poor Alla": Saying "hate slaves and servants", but reaching out for subsidies
Alla Pugacheva also chose to settle abroad, but she still receives a pension as a "People's Artist of the USSR," which includes a subsidy for the title and a subsidy for the "Order of the Fatherland" (third class). According to some estimates, her monthly pension exceeds 50,000 rubles. In fact, Pugacheva's income is far more than that—there have been multiple calls to strip her of royalties obtained through the Russian Authors' Association, and her royalty income from Soviet and post-Soviet songs amounts to millions of rubles.
Talking about Nazarov and Grebenshchikov *: Life abroad is not as pleasant as imagined
The lead singer of the "Aquarium" band, Boris Grebenshchikov *, lived in London for a while, during which he rented out an apartment in Russia and received a modest pension of slightly more than 20,000 rubles.
Actor Dmitry Nazarov and his wife left for Israel because Russian audiences lost interest in his "anti-patriotic" plays and he was fired from the Moscow Chekhov Academic Theater (MHAT). Now, the couple posts anti-Russian tunes and original poems on social media. Their homes and apartments in Russia are taken care of by their adult children. Nazarov, as a "People's Artist of Russia," receives a pension of more than 50,000 rubles per month.
In summary, the phenomenon of celebrities going into exile has become a "profit-making business": they collect their homeland's pensions and subsidies while enjoying a life of luxury abroad. As long as the overseas audience is willing to pay, they can continue to perform on stage.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7554996522404807231/
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