Sanctions on Russia for the invasion of Ukraine affect the lives of the Portuguese community
“These sanctions are felt, above all, when we are willing to travel. In addition to the fact that a trip to Portugal now costs three or four times as much, or even five, it sometimes takes almost 24 hours”, said Paulo MÃ ¡artires dos Santos, who lives in the Sokolniki region, northeast of the Russian capital.
Due to the lack of direct flights, passengers have to choose routes subject to plane changes, added the late-career lawyer, who arrived in Russia in 2013.
“There are those who think that restrictive sanctions harm major figures or companies in Russia, but what happens is that they hurt the interests, above all, of ordinary people, like me, for example”, he lamented.
Those who have bank accounts in 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 is not easy, but there is always a way to get around the sanctions imposed in this area. In addition to using friends, we can carry sums of cash with us or find banks that facilitate the carrying out of operations that are blocked by European or North American authorities”, he admitted.
The late-career jurist 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 say. Another thing What catches my attention is the hygiene and availability of public spaces”, he highlighted.
For Paulo Mártires dos Santos, it is proof of the “value of the heritage that Russia received from the former Soviet Union”.
“Another thing I admire are public services. Transport, for example, allows great mobility, at any time of the day or night, and at low cost”, highlighted the jurist.
“The same can be said about medical assistance. I have already had to resort to medical services and I was treated on time and in an exemplary manner. There is no doubt that here I enjoy a quality of life superior to that offered to me by my country”, he concluded.
Paulo Mártires dos Santos found a drawback in this society he chose to live in: “the low preparation of those who perform basic functions, such as those in civil construction”.
“I’m involved in remodeling my apartment and finding labor of acceptable quality is a real headache. In this aspect, yes, the Portuguese hold the upper hand, as they say”, he acknowledged.
