Difficulties in travel and banking affect the Portuguese community in Russia because of the international sanctions imposed against Vladimir Putin’s regime for the invasion of Ukraine, a Portuguese lawyer based in Moscow told Lusa.
“These sanctions are felt above all when we are willing to travel. Not only does a trip to Portugal now cost three or four times as much, or even five, but sometimes it takes almost 24 hours,” said Paulo Mártires dos Santos, who lives in the Sokolniki region, northeast of the Russian capital.
they hurt the interests, above all, of ordinary people, like me, for example,” he lamented.
Those who have bank accounts with Portuguese institutions and live in Moscow complain about the difficulty in carrying out banking operations, but there are ways to avoid the restrictions.
“Yes, sometimes it’s not easy, but there are always ways around the sanctions imposed in this area. Apart from using friends, we can carry cash with us or find banks that make it easier to carry out operations that are blocked by the European or US authorities,” he admitted.
The late-career lawyer noted that his integration into Russian society was easy, highlighting the “hospitality and cultural level of the people” who welcomed him.
“It’s a pleasure to talk to Russian people about theater, literature or cinema, in short, about any subject. I feel that Russians have a well-founded culture, that they don’t just repeat what they tell you. Another thing that draws my attention is the hygiene and availability of public spaces,” he said.
For Paulo Mártires dos Santos, this is proof of the “value of the heritage that Russia received from the former Soviet Union”.
“Another thing I admire is the public services. Transport, for example, allows great mobility, at any time of the day or night, and at a low cost,” said the jurist.
“The same can be said of medical care. I’ve already had to use the medical services and I’ve been treated on time and in an exemplary manner. There is no doubt that I enjoy a better quality of life here than in my home country,” he concluded.
Paulo Mártires dos Santos has found one drawback in the society he has chosen to live in: “the low level of preparation of those who carry out basic jobs, such as construction”.
“I’m in the middle of renovating my apartment and finding acceptable quality labor is a real headache. In this respect, yes, the Portuguese are the best, as they say,” he acknowledged.
