Prominent Delinquents Finding Refuge in Russia

amsterdam - Several individuals, including actors and a football player, have sought refuge in Russia for various reasons and under different circumstances.

Many prominent figures have chosen Russia as a place of refuge in recent years. The actor Gerard Depardieu, initially considering Belgium, eventually obtained Russian citizenship from President Vladimir Putin. However, his relationship with Russia soured after criticizing the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Steven Seagal, another actor, received Russian citizenship in 2016 while retaining his American nationality. He expressed strong affinity for Russia, stating he felt 'one million percent Russian.'

Edward Snowden, the whistleblower, fled to Russia in 2013 to escape US espionage charges. Despite initially planning to continue to Latin America, Snowden remains in Russia after being granted citizenship in 2022.

In a different scenario, Dutch footballer Quincy Promes moved to Russia to later relocate to the United Arab Emirates due to legal troubles in the Netherlands. Similarly, Rai Vloet, a footballer involved in a fatal accident, left for Russia to continue his football career after facing legal issues in the Netherlands.