Russian politician works remotely from Ukraine, supports Putin
Russian politician Mikhail Nosik has revealed that since 2021, he has been working remotely from Ukraine. He went there before the outbreak of the war to undergo cancer treatment. He claims to be performing his duties like other politicians while keeping a low profile. He does not want to resign and adds that he supports Putin and the war.
Key information
- Politician Mikhail Nosik has been working remotely from Ukraine since 2021.
- Nosik is staying in Dnipro, where he is undergoing cancer treatment.
- Despite the war, he continues remote work using VPNs and video conferencing.
Mikhail Nosik, a local councilor from the Zabaykalsky region in eastern Russia, disclosed that he has been working remotely from Ukraine for four years. He currently lives in Dnipro, where he moved in 2021, according to the "Moscow Times". The 65-year-old relocated for cancer treatment. He also mentioned wanting to be closer to his family since he was born in Ukraine. In the past, he worked on the cleanup operations at the Chernobyl power plant.
Nosik continues to participate in legislative work in his region. He utilizes VPN technology and video conferencing to participate in meetings. In a conversation with the ethics committee, he stated that the quality of his work is not inferior compared to other deputies.
Arkady Gromov, the chairman of the assembly in the Kalarsky district, admitted that Nosik is not breaking the law, although his situation is complicated. Most of the assembly voted against his removal from office, according to the "Moscow Times". "He found himself in a difficult situation. He arrived in Ukraine, where he was born, just before the special military operation," the portal quotes Gromov.
Nosik denied having Ukrainian citizenship, emphasizing his support for President Putin and Russia's actions in Ukraine. He claims that he has to hide from Ukrainian authorities. Russian prosecutors filed a complaint against him, resulting in an ethics committee hearing.
He has faced accusations, among them, of not having personal meetings with voters and lacking the capacity to objectively and impartially represent them. Nosik's mandate expires in December. According to the channel Baza, Nosik, in a conversation with politicians, voiced his support for Vladimir Putin and the "special military operation".
According to "Meduza", he even tried to return to Russia and contacted the relevant ministry for this purpose, but was ultimately unsuccessful. Nosik stated that he does not receive a salary for his council work and lives on a monthly pension of approximately CAD 500.
I don’t want to step down because, formally, my departure wouldn’t change anything. Besides, being a deputy makes me more valuable here and might help me if I’m detained — maybe even make me a candidate for a prisoner swap. I believe I’ve done my job no worse than other deputies, "Meduza" quotes Nosik's statement.
