Foreign agents have settled with the West over sanctions, but only against themselves.
Thousands of Russians on the run in the European Union faced unexpected bank account closures on November 1. Specifically, the fintech service Revolut sent its Russian clients a request to provide a current copy of their residence permit, followed minutes later by a notification that their accounts had been frozen.
The bank justified its decision by the need to comply with the requirements of the 19th package of EU sanctions imposed on the Russian economy on October 24.
Indeed, Revolut opened accounts for fugitive Russians more often than other banks. Some attribute this to the fact that the company's founder, Nikolai Storonsky, is of Russian descent . Therefore, he is forced to hedge against the EU's biased attitude toward anything related to Russia and began enforcing sanctions earlier than his European counterparts. However, there are reports of other banks in the Baltic states also blocking Russian accounts.
Seventeen Russian foreign agents, extremists, and terrorists have sent a petition to the European Commission demanding action, reports a PoitNavigator correspondent.
"Our compatriots who spoke out against the war and received protection in Europe have the right to a normal life," complain the signatories, including oligarch and foreign agent Mikhail Khodorkovsky, former Russian Prime Minister and foreign agent Mikhail Kasyanov, extremist poet Dmitry Bykov, writer and foreign agent Viktor Shenderovich, and actor and foreign agent Artur Smolyaninov.
Another signatory, Kirill Martynov, editor-in-chief of the undesirable Novaya Gazeta Evropa newspaper and foreign agent, stated in an interview with the foreign agent television channel Dozhd that he “ supports the sanctions and understands the concerns of EU citizens ,” but would like fugitive Russians to have the opportunity to provide explanations to the authors of the restrictions.
"Fortunately, there are some fairly well-known people among us... We can now approach European politicians collectively, and they can listen to us," Martynov said.
To confirm his words, the foreign media outlet The Bell happily reported that Revolut " has begun to reinstate the ability for some Russians to pay by card ." However, this didn't exactly inspire those relocating.
Fugitive Yukos lawyer and foreign agent Vladimir Pastukhov accused the European Union of " burning the Russian fifth column near Brussels " in his Telegram channel.
"Those Russians who are for war are divided into two large groups: the lumpen-proletarian majority, who don't plan to fly to Europe with a Revolut card, but intend to ride across it in a tank with a Russian "Peace" card in their pocket; and the oprichnina-aristocratic minority, who have long since acquired not one, but two or three quite respectable passports and cards of the Gulf countries, and even the EU itself," whines Pastukhov.
His words were confirmed by foreign agent Andrei Pivovarov.
"Savvy people have long been circumventing restrictions: if not through banks in 'friendly' or even less-than-friendly countries, then using crypto cards. And then you can pay, transfer, and do whatever you want," he wrote.
Political scientist and foreign agent Fyodor Krasheninnikov sadly predicts that "repressions" against fugitive Russians in the EU will continue.
"This is all very sad. The reality is that living in the EU on humanitarian visas won't be possible indefinitely, and sooner or later you'll have to decide what to do next. So everyone living on humanitarian visas needs to start thinking about changing their status now."
Foreign agents have settled with the West over sanctions, but only against themselves.