Russians found a good life in Bulgaria - Financial Times

02.12.2014

For the Russian middle class, Bulgaria has become a popular place to buy a second home, writes the famous British newspaper Financial Times.

“Russians are always welcome here,” says Elena Akhmedanova, a journalism student at Moscow University, preparing for exams at her parents' house near Nessebar on the Black Sea.

About 400,000 Russians own real estate in Bulgaria and increasingly prefer to stay permanently due to the easy registration of a residence permit, says Mikhail Chobanov, director of a real estate agency.

"Russian construction companies, travel agencies and supermarkets have found a market niche here. Some people even run companies in Moscow from Bulgaria. They fly by plane once every few weeks," he says.

An additional advantage is lightweight travel in the EU.

The newspaper briefly describes the case of Leonid Kozlov, a fitness center instructor. He left Moscow two years ago and moved to live in Pomorie, where many Russians buy apartments, and the number of residents doubled. “We live here calmer,” says Kozlov in a cafe full of Russian-speaking visitors. “I work all year, and my wife is in the tourist season. Our daughter goes to a Russian school. We plan to stay here permanently and start my own business,” says Kozlov.

The British newspaper tells the story of Sergey Gubov, who worked as an economist in a state company in Russia in the Far East. Four years ago, he retired and now lives with his family in Sofia, his son is studying at Sofia University. "My son wants to become a neurosurgeon and work in the USA or France. A diploma of a country of an EU member is a necessary first step," Gubov explains to the newspaper.

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