Dan Hardoon

Look, I don't really get involved in that.

I mean, I'm not here as a politician.

I'm here to live a nice, quiet life with my family.

I run a business.

You've said you don't want to get involved in politics, but by moving to Russia during the war and having a business which promotes it as a destination for people to move to based on political values, isn't that an inherently political position?

Well, no, really, because we're not based on those values.

A lot of people we guide towards a shared values visa because it's the easiest way to become a full resident here right now because you bypass things like the language test.

But it's not political helping people to move to Russia.

Despite Philip's claim that moving to Russia isn't political, it can come with strings attached.

A recent temporary decree means some foreign men, including Westerners aged between 18 and 65, who want to stay in Russia permanently, may need to sign a military or emergency services contract, although there are exemptions and apparent loopholes.

There have even been cases of Westerners voluntarily signing up to fight for Russia.

You're listening to the documentary from the BBC World Service.

Ihmisen kokoista huolenpitoa.

Tosi hyvän operaattorin, tosi hyvät kesätarjoukset.

This is the documentary from the BBC World Service with me, Dan Hardoon.

I'm following the Westerners moving to Putin's Russia on the so-called anti-woke visa.

And while some say the decision isn't political, ideology is often at the heart of why they're leaving the West behind.

Chantelle Hare moved to Russia from Texas in December 2023 with her husband Leo and their three sons.

Back in America, they ran a carpet cleaning and mobile snack business.

The hares are devout Christians who've become increasingly disillusioned with everything from political division in the US to genetically modified food and what they see as the rise of the LGBTQ movement.