The sun from the end of June abrasa at noon ‘Platja de la Cala de Finestrat’a corner of the Alicante coast flanked by high new construction buildings, snack of the swarm of skyscraper that, something else to the east, form the tourist town of Benidorm. The cannula and the suffocating moisture even hinder the rise due to the soft wooded rambla in which the slope of the Cala high urbanization parking lots. The place is calm, without pedestrians, and nothing indicates that only a year and a half ago took place, in this precise place, one of the deaths related to the Ukraine war that has had the greatest world impact since the beginning of the invasion: the murder of bullets of Maksim Kuzminsa Russian helicopter pilot who deserted in August 2024, crossing with his device the lines in front and giving himself to the Ukrainian forces, which rewarded him with half a million dollars and a new identity: one such Ihor Savchenkowith Ukrainian passport.
All the journalistic stories coincide: Kuzmínov, whose face had turned the world after his bold action thanks to the press wheels offered in kyiv, had gotten into the mouth of the wolf. ” And that it was impossible for his person to go unnoticed by 800 citizens of Russian nationality residents in the town, who have specialized shops and even realized real estate. Two hundred meters from where it was dejected, there is a place dependent on the Russian Orthodox Church, where it is possible to acquire religious books in Slavo ancient.
State in which the car of the murderers of the pilot Maksim Kuzmínov was left. / Villajoyosa City Council
Spain is home toS 80,000 Russian citizensof which about 20,000 reside in Alicante, according to data from the house of Russia itself, a floating population that experienced significant growth between 2010 and 2014. They are, according to Nina, political activist escape from their country, migrants who settled in the place years ago, in search of “adequate housing, pleasant climate and all the necessary infrastructure.” It is, in their words, people “not interested in political activism”, who did not flee in their day from the possible military mobilization and that are probably “against war”, but who prefer “not to express their opinion publicly.”
Life out
The life they lead, in many cases, develops outside the country that welcomes them. “It is possible (living in Alicante) and not contacting local society; in Alicante there are stores of large chains with Russian products, such as ‘Berezka’ and ‘Teremok’ “, continues Nina. In these establishments they can acquire typical sausages of your country, caviar red and black, black bread and even Russian dairy products.
In this environment of political demobilization and relative isolation, organizations such as the House of Russia have acquired great importance and influence, adopting a kind of de facto community leadership ‘taking advantage of the fact that in many cases, they facilitate life to the current citizen in their procedures with the Russian administration. Russia’s house It has been authorized By the consular authorities of the Eslavo country in Spain to broadcast passports and certificates, avoiding interested parties a long and painful trip to the consulates of Madrid and Barcelona, although yes, at a higher price. “The house of Russia in Alicante, is a real finding; it is wonderful that there is; I could get an external passport without problems and it was not necessary to go to Barcelona or make an appointment,” one is congratulated in a Facebook post one post one Alina Guilmutnidova.
Screen capture of the ‘post’ of a Russian citizen in a social network in which the administrative efforts that the house of Russia in Alicante praises praise. / Redacción
However, for their fellow citizens residing in Alicante and more politically motivated, the role of the institution in the Russian community is very negative, and they accuse their leaders of corrupt practices, to promote, in these times of war, the creation of contingents of loyal citizens to the Kremlin thanks to the services he dispenses. Yulia kuryushkinaresident in Alicante for six years, who a few months ago starred in a protest action against the headquarters launching catchup sauce To their facade, he argues that when they offer legal services to citizens with limited resources, what they do is make them “dependent people” to which they then demand consideration.
Another of the skills enjoyed by the institution is the possibility of receiving the votes of Russian residents abroad in the different electoral calls. But here, as in the Great Russia, there is trap, to say of Lia. In the regional elections of 2020, this woman set up guard against the headquarters and made a poll on the ballot of urn, whose results, in no case, coincided with the officers. “According to my data, more than 60% voted for the Communist Party, and on that occasion, Navalni had asked, as part of its intelligent voting strategy, support for this political formation; however, according to the official results (from the house of Russia), he won Russia Unida“, continues.
Torreviejaabout thirty kilometers from the provincial capital in the southern direction, it presents a similar atmosphere. Among its apartments blocks it is possible Commercial mining that groups a cafeteria where it is possible to taste delicious apple buns, and that groups A hairdresser, A library and even A real estate agency. “Migrants must adapt and integrate, so that they have a relationship with the country in which they live; the Spanish government should closely follow this situation and not allow the growth of closed enclaves“, warns the Nina opponent, aware of the importance of Kremlin to the loyalty of its citizens abroad.
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