Russians are leaving the country in droves Some chafe at life under Vladimir Putin's rule

Lost Angeles Times ^ | 14 November 2011 | Sergei L. Loiko

[Vigilanteman]

Reporting from Moscow — Over a bottle of vodka and a traditional Russian salad of pickles, sausage and potatoes tossed in mayonnaise, a group of friends raised their glasses and wished Igor Irtenyev and his family a happy journey to Israel.

Irtenyev, his wife and daughter insist they will just be away for six months, but the sadness in their eyes on this recent night said otherwise.

. . .

Experts believe that 100,000 to 150,000 people now leave the country annually and warn that the exodus reached dangerous dimensions in the last three years.

"People are going abroad for better college education, for better medical help, for better career opportunities, believing they will come back someday, but very few actually do," said Dmitry Oreshkin, a political analyst with the Institute of Geography. "The intellectual potential of the nation is being washed away, as the most mobile, intelligent and active are leaving."

[Vigilanteman]

This was reprinted in our local fishwrap yesterday. It is telling that people are still deserting a country which is giving births at well below replacement level.

Maybe Russia should take in some of the Somalai refugees which the UN is so anxious to foist upoun us.

[Hugin]

I think half of them come to Sacramento. Not complainin’, just sayin’.

[onedoug]

But...but...but they´re becoming so Christian.

[KC_Lion]

We will take them!

[treetopsandroofs]

Our beaches are warmer and Big Media’s news is always Commie-friendly.

[Vigilanteman]

Lots of them come to the Pittsburgh area as well. I've never seen a U.S. skyline with as many "onion skin" domes to mark the number of Orothodox churches which we have here.

Not complaining either. Most of them seen to be hard-working decent folks.

[central_va]

oh oh oh oh

[KC_Lion]

Russia, Please send more of your women.

Thanks, USA

[trotskylvalia]

The issue is being discussed in Minsk:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5ObycvN3DA

[central_va]

Even though she would leave you in a year of coming to the US, it would still be worth it.

[Jewbacca]

Israel has been getting its share.

Most are Jewish-according-to-Hitler and not actually Jewish, but they are learning Hebrew and most of the kids have Orthodox conversions in the IDF.

They’re hardcore and anit-socialist, to boot.

[from occupied ga]

I think half of them come to Sacramento.

Orlando has most of the other half

[1_Rain_Drop]

That’s severely photoshopped.

[Snickering Hound]

Well, ok, but include your portfolio please.

[TexasRedeye]

Roughly 1.25 million Russians have left the country in the last 10 years, ...

1,249,999 + my wife of eight years!

[central_va]

Maybe we could ship Russia 100,000 illegal Mexicans. We have plenty in stock.

[Hugin]

Orlando has most of the other half

LOL. At my last job I worded with a Russian guy who moved here from...Orlando.

[Hugin]

Sure ‘nuff, whenever I go into a business arond here and the receptionist is a stunning beauty, 9 times out of 10 her name is Oleysa, Oxanna, etc.

[Hugin]

Mrs. Hugin is Russian on her mother’s side, born in Johnstown.

[Eska]

I know a few too here in Alaska. They come anyway they can, but it’s the economy that is what they are after. They all say it’s more expensive here but life is much better, they ain’t going back. Their kids are as American as ours too, bottom line. One family I know they just got their citizenship, both parents highly educated, real sharp. They were ethnic Germans that immigrated to Russia in 1600’s, Catherine the Great imported them as farmers. Russkies never accepted them as Russian. My friend even had to change his name to a more Russian sounding version to survive, even though his people had been there 350 years. Guy I know is very conservative, plays hockey in adult league, kids all on travel teams, ha. Thing is, we’ve sat and watched world cup games and he’s rootin for the Russkies and we’re all ready to pound on him, ha ha.