Canadian farmer Arend Feenstra, who moved to Russia through a streamlined immigration program for citizens of “unfriendly” countries who share “traditional values,” has complained that he cannot get a permanent residence permit. The news outlet Nizhny Novgorod Onlain drew attention to his YouTube video.

Feenstra received a three-year temporary residence permit in Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod region in early 2025. He then brought his wife and eight children to Russia and began farming.

But Feenstra has now learned that to replace his temporary residence permit with a permanent one, he must sign a contract with Russia’s Defense Ministry.

"I didn’t come here to sign a contract [...] I have eight young children [...] I’d rather take my chances in Canada, though I think living there is risky too," Feenstra said.

...

He also said his family no longer recommends that other foreigners move to Russia because the authorities keep changing the rules and “there’s no way forward.”

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[–] 4 points 9 hours ago

Christian nationalists are suckers.

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  • [–] 45 points 18 hours ago (1 child)

    As a Canadian, good fucking riddance to anyone who thinks "tradition" is anything other than a dog whistle for Fuck You Got Mine.

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  • [–] 71 points 20 hours ago (7 children)

    Motherfucker thinks CANADA is “risky” jfc

    Imagine having the cash to move 8 kids to Russia to start a farm and then saying “I’ll move back”

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  • [–] 45 points 19 hours ago (5 children)

    Guy is a total idiot, pearl clutching, bible thumper. He can stay there, the dumb bitch.

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  • [–] 13 points 17 hours ago (3 children)

    I feel bad for his kids tho. They had no say in his decision.

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    [–] 22 points 18 hours ago

    May all of his 8 kids turn out to be happy and SUPER GAY.

    Can we not let them back in? The kids can come back so long as they’re gay, but otherwise he made his choice and should have to pick a new country to hide from people he sees as too different. With Canada off the list, I don’t know what good options he even has left. Maybe North Korea?

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  • [–] 10 points 16 hours ago
    [–] [S] 24 points 19 hours ago* (last edited 19 hours ago) (21 children)

    As someone who has never been to Canada, what is so risky there that is only slightly comparable to the war in Ukraine?

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  • [–] 38 points 19 hours ago (7 children)

    Nothing, the star of the story is a moron who has been brainwashed by right wing social media.

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  • [–] 9 points 17 hours ago (2 children)

    Yes but also they're in some exceptionally insane fork of Christianity if I recall correctly.

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  • [–] 12 points 19 hours ago (3 children)

    right wing social media.

    """""Traditional family values""""" you mean, of course.

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  • [–] 6 points 15 hours ago (2 children)

    You mean where having religious folk touch your kids and are ok with it or every 2nd guys phone having grinder “traditional values”?

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  • [–] 15 points 19 hours ago (1 child)

    They wanted the benefits without any obligations. Boo hoo

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  • [–] 1 point 15 hours ago

    Ha ha, classic bait and switch!

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