Media: Russian officials and deputies were advised to bring their children and parents home from abroad
The presidential administration has advised Russian officials, up to the highest levels, to bring their children who are studying abroad back home. This was reported by Znak.com news portal citing five sources who are directly affected by this request.
This recommendation concerns employees of the presidential administration, regional administrations, deputies of all levels, as well as employees of state corporations.
The website added that the children are required to return even if they have not completed their studies, and that they should transfer to Russian universities. In addition, the parents of these officials who are living abroad are also required to return to Russia.
According to sources, the careers of state officials who delay implementing the request have been threatened. The source has said that he has become aware of several such cases in recent months.
Znak.com states that the reason for the request is that the children of the Russian political elite are receiving their education abroad, while their parents are in the media discussing patriotism and “being surrounded by enemies”.
Opposition leader, Alexey Navalny, published a blog in 2012 which stated that all three daughters of Sergey Zheleznyak, who is a member of the United Russia faction in the State Duma, are studying abroad.
The son of Senator Yelena Mizulina received his education abroad and is living overseas now. The son of the former Commissioner for Children's Rights, Pavel Astakhov, is also receiving his education abroad, and his second child was born in Cannes.
The daughter of Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, grew up and was educated in the US. Tatler magazine reported that after returning to Russia, she spoke Russian with an obvious accent.
In September this year, the same magazine added the son of Denis Manturov, who is the Minister of Trade and Industry, to their list of most eligible bachelors of Russia. Manturov’s son received his education in Switzerland, “having studied there just enough time so that his father would not risk provoking the wrath of the authorities,” Tatler wrote.