Famous foreigners who received Russian citizenship
Fernandez moved to CSKA in 2012, having previously played for the Brazilian Gremio. Champion of Russia (2013, 2014, 2016). Silver medalist of the Russian Championship (2015). Winner of the Russian Cup (2013), silver medalist of the Russian Cup (2016). Winner of the Russian Super Cup (2014), silver medalist of the Russian Super Cup (2016).
On January 27, 2021, the famous political consultant, publicist and journalist Anatoly Wasserman, born in Odessa (Ukraine), received Russian citizenship. In 1994, he participated in the elections to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, but did not pass. Known as a multiple winner of intellectual game shows.
On January 27, 2021, Yuri Cooperman, an American artist, author of the interiors of the Voronezh Drama Theater, became a Russian citizen. Koltsova. The artist, born in Moscow, immigrated to Israel in 1972, then lived in France and the USA, and received American citizenship. His works are kept in the Tretyakov Gallery, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, in the collections of the French Ministry of Culture and the US Library of Congress.
On January 8, 2016, a passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation was presented to Ezio Gamba, an Italian judoka, head coach of the Russian judo team. Gamba is the 1980 Olympic champion and 1984 Olympic silver medalist. In 2008, Ezio Gamba was appointed head coach of the Russian men's judo team. Under his leadership, at the 2012 Olympics in London, the Russian men's team won three gold, one silver and one bronze medals.
The coach was awarded the Russian Order of Friendship. In 2015, he was awarded the honorary sports title “Honored Coach of Russia.”
In December 2015, American mixed martial arts fighter Jeffrey William Monson received Russian citizenship. In MMA (mixed martial arts), Monson scored 58 victories with 24 defeats and one draw. The fighter has a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Monson announced his desire to obtain Russian citizenship in March 2013. The athlete has repeatedly declared his sympathy for “leftist” ideas.
Monson also has a passport of the self-proclaimed Lugansk People's Republic, awarded to him by the head of the LPR Igor Plotnitsky in September 2021. In Lugansk, the athlete opened a children's sports school.
On November 22, 2015, it became known that the Brazilian goalkeeper of the Moscow football club Lokomotiv Marinato Alvim Guilherme received a passport as a citizen of the Russian Federation.
From 2003 to 2007, Guilherme played for the Brazilian club Atlético Paranaense. Since July 2007 he has been playing for FC Lokomotiv.
Since the 2010 season, he has been the team's main goalkeeper. In 2013-2015 he was the captain of the club. As part of the “red-greens”, Marinato Guilherme won bronze medals at the 2013/14 Russian Championship, and in the 2014/15 season he won the Russian Cup.
On November 28, 2015, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree granting Russian citizenship to the daughter of white emigrant Vladimir von Dreyer, Baroness Irina Vladimirovna von Dreyer, living in France. Baroness von Dreyer was born in 1915 in Moscow; in 1920, she and her family left Russia and became stateless. The Von Dreyers traveled a lot around the world and eventually settled in France: the head of the family, a former Russian army general, opened a store, and his daughter Irina was sent to study with Catholic nuns. In 1936, the girl took second place in the Miss Russia competition held in Paris by the Russian magazine Illustrated Russia. In November 2015, it became known that the baroness, who had a French passport, turned to Russian President Vladimir Putin with a request to grant her Russian citizenship.
On December 13, the Russian Ambassador to France Alexander Orlov presented the baroness with a passport.
On September 12, 2015, American professional boxer Roy Jones Jr. received Russian citizenship.
He spent most of his professional fights in the United States; Roy Jones' Olympic medal, gold at the 1988 games, also counted for the American team. The first boxer in the history of boxing to become world middleweight champion, then managed to win titles in the super middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions. Roy Jones is also known for his music and acting career.
In April 2014, Greek conductor Theodor Currentzis received Russian citizenship. Since the early 1990s, Currentzis has lived and worked in Russia. Studied at the St. Petersburg State Conservatory. N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov in the class of the legendary conductor, Professor Ilya Musin. Currently he is the artistic director of the Perm Academic Opera and Ballet Theater named after. P.I. Tchaikovsky, artistic director of the International Diaghilev Festival. Founder and artistic director of the musicAeterna orchestra and the musicAeterna chamber choir. Knight of the Order of Friendship (2008). Six-time winner of the National Theater Award "Golden Mask".
On January 1, 2013, the President of the Russian Federation signed a decree granting Russian citizenship to the French actor Gerard Depardieu, who also retained French citizenship. Later, the actor, who permanently resides outside of Russia, received a residence permit in Saransk.
In May 2012, American snowboarder Vic Wild (Victor Ivan Wild) received a Russian passport. After spending 11 seasons with the US national team, Vic Wild decided to change his citizenship to Russian after marrying Russian snowboarder Alena Zavarzina. At the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi, Vic Wild became the Olympic champion in the parallel giant slalom and parallel slalom, becoming the first athlete in the history of snowboarding to win two gold medals at the same Olympic Games.
Awarded the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, IV degree.
On December 26, 2011, South Korean short track speed skater Ahn Hyun Soo received Russian citizenship. Upon receiving a Russian passport, he took a new name - Viktor An. At the 2006 Turin Olympics, Ahn Hyun-soo won three gold and one bronze medal. At the Sochi Olympics in 2014, the speed skater, competing for Russia, won three golds, becoming a six-time Olympic champion, and one bronze.
In February 2011, pentathlete Alexander Lesun, a native of Belarus, received Russian citizenship. Lesun is the winner (2012, 2013, 2014, 2016) and silver medalist (2010, 2011, 2016) of the World Championships, winner and second medalist of the World Cup finals (2011, 2012), champion of the 2021 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
In October 2011, Italian conductor and pianist Fabio Mastrangelo became a Russian citizen. He made his debut at the Mikhailovsky Theater in St. Petersburg in 2002, and later was the chief conductor of the Opera and Ballet Theater in Yekaterinburg. Now he directs the St. Petersburg Music Hall, several annual music festivals and a unique cruise project “Classics over the Volga” with the participation of soloists of the Bolshoi Theater and Helikon Opera.
In 2010, Ukrainian-born figure skater Tatyana Volosozhar received Russian citizenship. In 2004-2010, for six seasons the athlete performed in tandem with Stanislav Morozov. In 2010, she moved to Russia and started skating with Maxim Trankov.
Volosozhar and Trankov are Russian champions (2011, 2013, 2016), winners of the Grand Prix series finals (2012), European champions (2012, 2013, 2014, 2016), world champions (2013), silver medalists of the world championships (2011, 2012 ), two-time Olympic champions in 2014 (in individual and team competitions).
Volosozhar was awarded the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, IV degree (2014).
In December 2008, Japanese figure skater Yuko Kawaguchi accepted Russian citizenship. In 2000-2003, Kawaguchi competed for Japan in a pair with Russian figure skater Alexander Markuntsov. In 2004-2006 she skated with American Devin Patrick. Since 2006 he has been paired with Alexander Smirnov. Silver (2015 - team) and bronze (2009, 2010 - pairs) medalist of the world championships. European Champion (2010, 2015). Silver (2009, 2011) and bronze (2008) medalist of the European Championships. Champion of Russia (2008-2010). Silver (2011, 2013, 2016) and bronze (2015) medalist of the Russian championships. Bronze medalist of the Grand Prix final (2012, 2015).
In October 2003, American basketball player Robert John Holden received Russian citizenship. From 2002 to 2011 he played for the CSKA basketball club.
As a member of the army team, he won the Russian Championship nine times, the Euroleague twice, and the VTB United League once. As a member of the national team, he became the European champion in 2007 and competed at the 2005 European Championships and the 2008 Olympic Games. At the end of the 2010/11 season he retired. Awarded the Order of Friendship (2007).
The material was prepared based on information from RIA Novosti and open sources
Famous foreigners who received Russian citizenship
Today all of Russia celebrates National Unity Day. Despite the fact that it has been celebrated since 2005, it is safe to say that this holiday is a return to old traditions. It was on November 4, 1612 that the people's militia, led by Kuzma Minin and Dmitry Pozharsky, stormed Kitay-Gorod, liberating Moscow from the Polish interventionists, demonstrating the heroism and unity of the entire people.
According to a Levada Center survey, 83% of the country's residents are proud to be Russians. Of those surveyed, 90% are proud of their history and culture (88%), strong army (90%) and science (82%). Sports (75%) and Russia's position in the international arena (72%) are also a source of pride, and in recent years the sense of patriotism of Russians has noticeably increased and strengthened.
At the same time, the number of foreigners who have warm feelings for our country and are ready to exchange a prosperous life in the West for Russian citizenship and live in Russia, despite our harsh climate, is growing every year. Today we decided to talk about those who became Russians and received the coveted citizenship and compiled a top list that included world-famous athletes, artists, and artists.
1. In October 2003, American basketball player Robert John Holden received Russian citizenship. From 2002 to 2011 he played for the CSKA basketball club.
2. In December 2008, Japanese figure skater Yuko Kawaguchi accepted Russian citizenship. Silver (2015 - team) and bronze (2009, 2010 - pairs) medalist of the world championships. European Champion (2010, 2015).
3. In 2010, Ukrainian-born figure skater Tatyana Volosozhar received Russian citizenship. In 2010, she moved to Russia and began skating with Maxim Trankov - together they became Russian champions (2011, 2013, 2016), European champions (2012, 2013, 2014, 2016), world champions (2013), two-time Olympic champions in 2014 (in individual and team competitions). Awarded the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, IV degree (2014).
4. In October 2011, Italian conductor and pianist Fabio Mastrangelo received a Russian passport.
5. In February 2011, a native of Belarus, pentathlete Alexander Lesun became a citizen of Russia. Lesun is the winner (2012, 2013, 2014, 2016) of the World Championships, winner and second prize-winner of the World Cup finals (2011, 2012), champion of the 2021 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
6. On December 26, 2011, South Korean short track speed skater Ahn Hyun Soo - Viktor An - received Russian citizenship. At the Sochi Olympics in 2014, the speed skater, competing for Russia, won three golds, becoming a six-time Olympic champion, and one bronze. Victor was not in the best shape when he joined the Russian team - he had an injured knee and had to undergo four operations to restore it. Moreover, in order to become a Russian, Victor sacrificed his historical homeland - in Korea, by law, citizenship is automatically revoked if a male citizen takes citizenship of another country. Answering the question of how he decided to do this, the athlete replied:
“They believed in me in Russia. They provided excellent conditions for training. We have a great team. I'm grateful for that!”
7. In May 2012, American snowboarder Vic Wild (Victor Ivan Wild) received a Russian passport. His story is very romantic: he changed his citizenship by marrying Russian snowboarder Alena Zavarzina. At the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi, Vic Wild became the Olympic champion in the parallel giant slalom and parallel slalom, becoming the first athlete in the history of snowboarding to win two gold medals at the same Olympic Games.
“I told the American Snowboard Federation that I will no longer compete for them, that’s all, I intend to live my life. I don't want to be 11th and go to world championships just to travel. I want to win, and that’s why I received Russian citizenship, where they create excellent conditions for athletes,” Vic said in an interview.
8. On September 12, 2015, American professional boxer Roy Jones Jr. received Russian citizenship. In August 2015, in Sevastopol, he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and asked for his help in obtaining Russian citizenship. On September 12, 2015, he received it, the corresponding decree was signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin:
“To satisfy the application for admission to citizenship of the Russian Federation of Jones Jr. Roy Levesta, born on January 16, 1969 in the United States of America.”
9. On November 22, 2015, the Brazilian goalkeeper of the Moscow football club Lokomotiv Marinato Alvim Guilherme received a passport as a citizen of the Russian Federation.
10. In December 2015, American mixed martial arts fighter Jeffrey William Monson received Russian citizenship.
11. On January 8, 2021, a passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation was presented to Ezio Gamba, an Italian judoka, head coach of the Russian judo team.
12. On January 27, 2021, the famous political consultant, publicist and journalist Anatoly Wasserman received Russian citizenship,
13. On July 13, 2021, Russian President Vladimir Putin granted citizenship to the Brazilian defender of CSKA Moscow Mario Fernandez.
14. On November 3, 2021, the President of the Russian Federation signed a decree granting Russian citizenship to American actor and producer Steven Seagal.
Vasily Shevchenko
