Two years ago, at the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum, American Tim Kirby made a bold statement: “I will build, he said, in the Moscow region, a village for compatriots who dream of moving to Russia – away from what is alien to their morals”. 
What came of it?, aif.ru found out, having met the first settlers.

At home among strangers

Many Americans who want to move or have already moved to Russia hope that they will find a second home here. They consider Russia to be a safe place where they can raise their children properly.

And there are hundreds of such families in the US, according to the 43-year-old blogger and journalist Kirby: Americans write to him regularly asking for help in moving.

Kirby himself moved from the United States to Russia in 2006, as he is of Slavic decent. His great-grandparents left the Russian Empire and crossed the ocean in search of a better life. However, the reason is not only about his so-called ethnic identity.

“It is important for me that there is no LGBT propaganda in Russia (the LGBT movement is recognized as extremist and banned in the Russian Federation). In the West, it is everywhere – in advertising, in computer games, even in schools, children are forced to believe that this is the norm. And another important point is the question of religion. I am an Orthodox person — I was baptized — and I believe that Orthodoxy is now strengthening its position event in America: there are becoming more and more Orthodox people.

Russian ideology, politics, and values are close to him, which is why it is pleasant for an American to live here. Tim’s introduction to Russia and his love for it began… in Kazakhstan. It was there that he first found himself in a Russian-speaking environment. He came to Kazakhstan as a volunteer in 2004. It was there that he began learning Russian, and now he speaks it not just fluently but masterfully—no mistakes even in the endings of cases and prepositions!

“But I don’t like reading; I have dyslexia, it only frustrates me,” Tim admits.

Tim has a degree in design. In 2006, after moving to Russia, he first worked for a computer game company. Unlike many newcomers who are outraged by Moscow’s housing prices, Tim accepted them as a given.

“Why add unnecessary emotions? They won’t change the circumstances,” the American says.

On the other hand, Tim appreciates humor, including Russian humor. For nine years, he successfully delivered jokes as a radio host. After playing computer games, Tim Kirby switched to working in the media, first with Sergei Stillavin on the Mayak radio station, and then with his own show. Currently, he uses his social media channel to share his travels around Russia, highlighting its diverse natural landscapes and conducting interviews with both Russian and American individuals.

However, he gained particular popularity with his plan to create an American village near Serpukhov. He announced this in 2023 at the International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg.

“I really wanted to implement this project — to build an American village in a clean field for my compatriots who don’t want to live and raise their children in a society with LGBT propaganda. But without financial assistance and the ability to take out a mortgage, it’s impossible. The cost of installing all the necessary utilities, such as electricity, water supply, and more, amounts to hundreds of millions of rubles,” says Tim. “I also wanted to fulfill my dream of creating a real American football field. Russia has an American football league with teams across the country. For example, I play for the professional team Moscow Spartans. But there is not one field with permanent lines! This is a travesty.”

Small houses in the village

But to create a village from scratch is too difficult and expensive. Then Tim and his like-minded lawyer Timur Beslangurov, who deals with paperwork for the emigrants, decided that it was better to have a bird in the hand. They found another, already inhabited place for the resettlement of Americans – in the village of Bolshaya Voda in the Istra district.

Now there are two families living there: a married couple with three daughters and an American retired couple.

It is difficult to find the new residents with their children at home: the adults are working, and their children are taking Russian language courses. Only the sixth member of the family, a dog that we saw through the panoramic window, patiently waits for its owners at the door all day.

However, 64-year-old Kristopher Barrett, who is currently living alone (his wife has gone to the United States to sort out financial matters, but she should return soon), was more than happy to invite us to his home.

This winter, Kristopher and his wife Jill Pruitt finally decided to move to Russia. Selling their American house and packing their belongings (among which, of course, there was a place for cowboy boots), they went in search of happiness across the ocean in February. And specifically – in the district of Istra in the Moscow region, where they began a new life among people with whom they literally speak different languages. Kristopher does not speak Russian, his Russian neighbors – in English.

When the aif.ru journalists visited the immigrants, they contributed to strengthening international ties by introducing Kristopher to his neighbor Nikolai. Previously, the two men had only waved at each other across the fence. Kristopher had to rely on phone calls to communicate with his family.

“I still have a mother, a brother, and a sister in the United States. I talk to them regularly. We have a close relationship. But they were all confused when they found out about our move, and they said it was a crazy idea. But I had already made up my mind,” Kristopher says. “I wanted to live in a safe place, where I wouldn’t have to worry about being a victim of crime.”

It’s not a real life, it’s a movie!

Russia became the final destination in their search for a safe place, but not immediately. At first, the Barrett family hoped to live a quiet American life in Cheyenne, after moving there from their hometown of Portland. From Kristopher’s stories, it seems that life in the United States now resembles the plot of the TV series “Breaking Bad.”

“Some people still compare life in America to Hollywood movies. We had it so good in the 1980s and 1990s. But now America is different, it’s becoming very violent and expensive. We left Portland because we were afraid for our lives. I was involved in a shootout with a gang of drug dealers because of their mother, the gang leader, whom I allegedly insulted.”

But the city of Cheyenne did not live up to Kristopher and Jill’s expectations: there are enough thugs there. And the police, according to the American citizen, are often powerless in the fight against crime. The disagreement of the Barretts with the domestic and foreign policy of the former American president John Biden also prompted the decision to move.

“Before we finally moved here, my wife and I first visited St. Petersburg, simply because we had heard a lot about the city of incredible beauty,” says Kristopher. “We also liked St. Petersburg very much because we felt absolutely safe in it. In Moscow, it’s the same: clean and safe. Russia has a low crime rate. And that was one of the reasons I moved here.”

Kristopher was lucky: his desire coincided with opportunities and new circumstances. He stumbled upon Kirby’s telegram channel, which provided information about life in Russia and offered assistance to compatriots in relocating to the country under a simplified scheme.

All about Russia, faith, and plans

In early February, the Americans arrived in Moscow. They first rented an apartment in Lyubertsy. During this time, they visited many museums, and Kristopher was particularly impressed by the Museum of Cosmonautics.

“I’ve been interested in science since I was a child, and I love physics. My favorite shows are related to science,” says Kristopher. “I liked everything about Moscow, but what really impressed me was the cleanliness. The transportation and the metro system are absolutely amazing!”

Just recently, in May, Kristopher and Jill celebrated their housewarming party in their new house near Istra. It was there that the host met us. Kristopher looked very American in a white shirt and trousers with suspenders.

“We have a small hallway here. Yes, we’re used to taking off our shoes at the door, although most Americans don’t.”

The three-room house with a bedroom, an office, and a kitchen-living room was very bright, despite the darkened windows. The interior was unusual, as it was very austere. There were no bookshelves, paintings, photographs, or clocks. In Kristopher’s office, I noticed icons on the windowsill. There was also an English-language Bible.

“We visited several churches in St. Petersburg and Moscow. As I grew older, I realized that it is difficult and meaningless to live without faith or God. My wife and I decided to convert to Orthodoxy, but we were baptized in a Greek Orthodox church in America,” says the American.

Kristopher is currently reading the Holy Scriptures, but he doesn’t attend church. There is no church in the village, and the nearest one can only be reached by car. The Barrett family is currently planning to purchase a car. Jill is considering a Russian SUV, while Kristopher dreams of owning a motorcycle.

“Yes, it’s a bit boring to stay in one place,” Kristopher admits. “The bus runs infrequently, so you can’t do without a car. In the meantime, I even order groceries to be delivered to my home. The food in Russian stores is very affordable and of high quality. In the United States, everything is much more expensive, and my wife and I struggled to make ends meet with our pensions. Here, we have more than enough: my wife and I each receive around \$3,000 (equivalent to 240-250,000 rubles at the current exchange rate),” Kristopher says.

In general, Kristopher is happy to move to Russia, although he doesn’t like socializing much because he still struggles with the Russian language. However, he likes the people, even though they don’t seem to smile much.

“Americans often smile, but their smiles are fake. Russians, on the other hand, believe that smiling for no reason is stupid. And I completely agree with them,” Kristopher said, smiling at us as he said goodbye.

Reference

Since the end of 2024, foreigners who share traditional values can move to Russia without having to pass tests on the Russian language, Russian history, or waiting for a quota. This became possible after the issuance of Presidential Decree No. 702 of August 19, 2024, “On Providing Humanitarian Support to Persons Sharing Traditional Russian Spiritual and Moral Values.” According to lawyer Timur Beslangurov, foreigners will only be able to later apply for permanent residency in Russia after living in the country for at least a couple years, and they will have to pass a test on Russian language and history. The Shared Values visa allows them to get temporary residency with out passing a language test.

After five years of living in our country, foreigners can then apply for Russian citizenship.