St. Petersburg, June 16 Half those Russians who left the country after February 2022 have already returned to Russia, this process is ongoing, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
«Fifty percent, according to our conservative estimates, of those who left have already returned. This process continues, but if someone wants to live in another place — for God's sake. But I'm sure that this process is more likely positive rather than negative, because it will be an element of Russia's additional connection with those countries with which we are already developing economic and humanitarian contacts,» Putin said at the SPIEF plenary session.
According to him, many Russians now live and work in the Emirates, even more in the countries — the closest neighbors of the Russian Federation: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan. «I don't see anything wrong here, let people live where they see fit, work,» the president said.
Putin added that there is a big difference where to live, for example, in Moscow with its enormous social benefits and opportunities, or in another city, or in a different linguistic culture. «It's one thing to live among friends, the usual circle of connections, among relatives and just acquaintances whom you want to see from time to time, and another thing is to live apart from them,» the head of state said.
The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) takes place on June 14-17. is the media partner and host photo agency of the forum.
Putin's speech at SPIEF. Online Reporting >>