‘Main customers’: Russians fleeing Putin’s war find a home in Phuket

[webfact]

 

Thai island has had influx of those either trying to avoid fighting in Ukraine or feel unwelcome in Europe

In the humid evenings on the Thai island of Phuket, Aleksei* often sits alone on his balcony, and wonders if the past 18 months have been a strange dream. Last year, he was living with his mother and siblings in Moscow, and working in an IT job in one of the city’s skyscrapers. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022 changed everything.

 

“At that moment I thought: ‘OK what opportunities do I have here in Russia?’ Go to war, which I don’t want of course because Ukrainians are our brothers,” he says. The alternative, to protest, was hopeless. “It is impossible to fight against the government in Russia,” he says.

 

He travelled to the airport in Moscow, with a couple of thousand dollars in savings, and a one-way ticket to Thailand, praying immigration would let him through. He chose Phuket, he adds, because it was more affordable than renting in neighbouring countries where a recent influx of Russians meant it had become harder to find a place to stay.

 

Aleksei is one of the hundreds of thousands of Russians estimated to have fled their country after the mobilisation of troops for the war in Ukraine, with many flocking to nearby Kazakhstan, Georgia or Turkey.

 

Thailand, although further away, has also experienced a rise in Russian visitors, with some appearing to be putting down more permanent roots in the country. Last year, Russians were the leading international buyers of property in Phuket, and during the first quarter of this year, sales to Russian nationals increased 68% on the same period in 2022. The value of properties being sold has also risen, by 46.7% during the first quarter, according to the Thai Real Estate Association.

 

Rebecca Ratcliffe in Phuket

TOP picture: People walk along Kamala beach at sunset on Phuket. The island has proved a hotspot for Russians fleeing the war. Photograph: Jack Taylor/The Guardian

 

Full story: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/aug/11/russians-fleeing-putin-war-find-a-home-in-phuket-thailand-ukraine

 

-- © Copyright The Guardian 2023-08-12

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

 

[Tropicalevo]

3 minutes ago, webfact said:

Go to war, which I don’t want of course because Ukrainians are our brothers,” he says. The alternative, to protest, was hopeless. “It is impossible to fight against the government in Russia,” he says.

And that is the problem for regular Russian citizens.

It is a no win situation to live in Russia at the moment.

If they start 'making a noise' whilst overseas, they suddenly fall out of windows or die from 'food' poisoning.

[petermik]

2 minutes ago, webfact said:

 

 

Thai island has had influx of those either trying to avoid fighting in Ukraine or feel unwelcome in Europe

 

 

 

What type of visas have been issued to these people I wonder........

[ezzra]

Tyrants don't steps down willingly unless someone/s make them, hiding in Phuket will not stop him sending more Russians to serves as cannon's fodders, topple the cruel, despot Putin and go back to your usual lives.

[milesinnz]

"with a couple of thousand dollars in savings, and a one-way ticket to Thailand".. and what visa allows a "one way" ticket ? with a couple of thousands in savings ?

[milesinnz]

2 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

And that is the problem for regular Russian citizens.

It is a no win situation to live in Russia at the moment.

If they start 'making a noise' whilst overseas, they suddenly fall out of windows or die from 'food' poisoning.

lets be clear, the majority of Russians DO support Putin....

[malibukid]

2 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

And that is the problem for regular Russian citizens.

It is a no win situation to live in Russia at the moment.

If they start 'making a noise' whilst overseas, they suddenly fall out of windows or die from 'food' poisoning.

BS, their grandfathers had the courage to stand up against the czar 100 years ago.  snowflakes, cowards

[Guderian]

Have they changed the airport name yet to Phuketgrad International Airport?

[FarangJon]

Its ok, I understand that they dont wana fight for that sick bastard Putin. But please just stay at phuket and dont move to other parts of Thailand. Thanks.

[bradiston]

12 minutes ago, milesinnz said:

lets be clear, the majority of Russians DO support Putin....

How do you know that? None that I've met here do. All 5 of them!

[Jimbo 12345]

Please Putin end this war, maybe they all go back then,  can only dream I suppose 

[oxo1947]

20 minutes ago, milesinnz said:

and what visa allows a "one way" ticket ?

Imigration--They do not look at your ticket-- If anyone-its the airlines that usually say no, just in case you are refused entry - but if you have already been granted a visa, there shouldn't be any problem entering.

[spidermike007]

This would not be a fun time to be a Russian. Having a war loving, despot dictator lording over you has to be miserable. One can only hope they can somehow figure out a way to resolve this soon.

[bradiston]

6 minutes ago, oxo1947 said:

Imigration--They do not look at your ticket-- If anyone-its the airlines that usually say no, just in case you are refused entry - but if you have already been granted a visa, there shouldn't be any problem entering.

Same goes for visa issuing authority, if you have applied. They don't look at your entry eligibility. The airlines can refuse a boarding pass if you don't meet the destination country's arrival requirements. And you can be turned back by immigration even though you have a valid visa/entry permit.

[Falcon]

These Russians are a pain in the ass. They are taking over everywhere in thailand. As for them buying properties, do they mean houses as well as apartments? Funny how they can buy but everyone else has to either put in a company name or put in their (Thai) wife’s name. These people are given too much freedom to do whatever they want and will soon take over the country. All in the excuse that they are escaping the war in Russia.

[IrishInThailand]

Wonder how long 2000 usd will last ? Can he work in Thailand ?

[fredbe]

Russia is one of the most corrupted country also

[Adumbration]

And the cash registers at the ED Visa Language Schools go KA CHING!

[freeworld]

Oh diddums, a lot of westerners are upset that their once asian paradise which they thought was solely the domain for their holidays and retirement is now being frequented by Russians, Chinese and Indians and Africans and they seem to be upset by that.

[oxo1947]

7 minutes ago, IrishInThailand said:

Can he work in Thailand

Depends on his skill set--- I guess the Chinese bashing is taking a rest for the Russian bashing--- I grew up in the 50s UK...we were bashing you then......."how many more are going to come over here now".

[freeworld]

23 minutes ago, Falcon said:

These Russians are a pain in the ass. They are taking over everywhere in thailand. As for them buying properties, do they mean houses as well as apartments? Funny how they can buy but everyone else has to either put in a company name or put in their (Thai) wife’s name. These people are given too much freedom to do whatever they want and will soon take over the country. All in the excuse that they are escaping the war in Russia.

Rubbish, they must follow the Thai laws like everyone else.

 

''They are given too much freedom''....lol

[BarraMarra]

So remind me how long is your stay in the Kingdom if you're a new arrival? do these long-stayers have married visas? do they have to do a visa run after 31 days, do they have to leave the Country once their visa runs have run out? How are they entitled to stay for Months?

[freeworld]

2 minutes ago, BarraMarra said:

So remind me how long is your stay in the Kingdom if you're a new arrival? do these long-stayers have married visas? do they have to do a visa run after 31 days, do they have to leave the Country once their visa runs have run out? How are they entitled to stay for Months?

They do it the same as westerners are and other nationalities are doing and perhaps some are gaming the system like most who want to stay in Thailand and cant meet or follow the legal written requirements.

[oxo1947]

4 minutes ago, BarraMarra said:

So remind me how long is your stay in the Kingdom if you're a new arrival?

You can stay as long as you want---- if you know the magic word.................................    AGENT

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, petermik said:

What type of visas have been issued to these people I wonder........

I'm sure agents have been helping those with limited funds, others have the money to stay.

[anyone]

2 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

I'm sure agents have been helping those with limited funds, others have the money to stay.

The article clearly states that they come with two thousand dollars. How can you live on this money and give a commission to an agent?
$2,000 is a typical travel expense. This means that the tourist will leave in a month (back to bloodthirsty Russia ????). As always, the information is turned upside down LOL.

[Bkk Brian]

3 minutes ago, anyone said:

The article clearly states that they come with two thousand dollars. How can you live on this money and give a commission to an agent?
$2,000 is a typical travel expense. This means that the tourist will leave in a month (back to bloodthirsty Russia ????). As always, the information is turned upside down LOL.

The article referred to him as having worked in Moscow in IT, he probably still works in IT now in Phuket.

[BarraMarra]

33 minutes ago, freeworld said:

They do it the same as westerners are and other nationalities are doing and perhaps some are gaming the system like most who want to stay in Thailand and cant meet or follow the legal written requirements.

I thought you needed at least 800 thousand tbt in your account not a cpl of thousand I presume Rubles

[Presnock]

4 hours ago, ezzra said:

Tyrants don't steps down willingly unless someone/s make them, hiding in Phuket will not stop him sending more Russians to serves as cannon's fodders, topple the cruel, despot Putin and go back to your usual lives.

yeah, read yesterday that Putin has now increased the draft available men to age 70 after scrapping of the original draft law exempting those over 40 with no upper limit.

[jeddas]

1 hour ago, milesinnz said:

"with a couple of thousand dollars in savings, and a one-way ticket to Thailand".. and what visa allows a "one way" ticket ? with a couple of thousands in savings ?what visa has he??. What about funds as he says 'a few thousand dollars in savings'.