Mikhail Skoblionok: ‘Returnees did not work in Israel. They don’t receive pension…’
Leader of the Jewish Community in Tatarstan complained about bureaucracy on the Land of Israel that is so bad that doesn’t take bribes
The news that Israel managed to make Russia pay pensions to former citizens of the RSFSR who emigrated to the Land of Israel before 1992 attracted public attention. Meanwhile, head of the Jewish National and Cultural Autonomy in Tatarstan Mikhail Skoblionok thinks people deserve payments, and justice has been met to some extent. In an interview with Realnoe Vremya he also told about pitfalls that returnees from Russia meet.
Limmud in Kazan
Mikhail Abramovich, as far as I'm concerned, your Regina Hotel will host a conference called Limmud. Volga-Ural. Will the event be religious or secular?
It is a secular event, though there will be religious representatives too. They will talk to each other.
Why was Kazan chosen to host this event?
Because last year we organised Limmud in Russia. Everyone liked it. Earlier it took place in Moscow, St. Petersburg and abroad. Now it is in Kazan. We are the third city to host the event. Kazan deserved it due to its good attitude to people.
Pension problem
Let's switch to another topic. Russia agreed to pay pensions to our former compatriots who moved to Israel before 1992. There are both supporters and opponents of this decision. What group do you belong to?
I suppose the pension is gained thanks to a person's own labour, no matter where this person is. People gained this pension regardless of the country they moved to and live. The country where the person worked is to pay the pension.
Did not the pensioners who lived in Israel receive money?
They did not work in Israel and don't receive any pension. They are on benefits. The amount of money each of them receives is different, I can't tell it for sure. I know that those who went to Germany, the USA and other countries are on benefits. In Germany, they get €350 per capita.
The other side of repatriation
Do you have many friends who emigrated to Israel?
I do.
What about those who came back?
Some of them could not get accustomed. Problems also exist there. The main thing is that the relationships between people are absolutely different. Education is noticeable. We were educated in Russia; their education is different. People cannot find jobs. Here they had a good profession, but moving there they cannot find a worthy job. Everyone has its own reasons.
'I suppose pension is gained thanks to a person's own labour, no matter where this person is.' Photo: il24.ru
It is said about a tense military situation…
No, the military situation is fine. It is no less tense than ours.
Could you tell about the process of repatriation from the Soviet Union?
As soon as permission was obtained, crowds of people started to leave the place because it always seemed the life abroad was better. Indeed their laws are stable. It is not like in Russia where laws change almost every month. Here a law is adopted when something new is created, then they change it. Laws in such countries are well prepared, they work. It is possible to get used to them. They have a good attitude to old people. Our pensioner gets 10-15,000 rubles at best. And you convert €350 into rubles. Bonuses are also different. Accommodation is free. Here you pay for your accommodation without any concession. They don't care whether you are a pensioner or not. Their pensioner doesn't pay. In Israel, when you are aged 70, you have the right to leave your car wherever you want, and you don't need to pay the parking charge. What about us? Go on foot or use a paid parking. Anyway the attitude towards people is different there, while our people are a trash.
You are outspoken.
I always tell the truth.
Mikhail Abramovich, what about the repatriation of your relatives?
I sent my parents when it was found my father had cancer. My son went to Israel and lived there for 8 years and returned to Russia. He did not like the relationships between people. He had a good job, good life, but he did not like the relationships. But in Russia he doesn't have a job. But he feels better.
There people smile at each other but will never help you. In my old days, a person treated another person as both a friend and companion. People look at each other as wolves and smile there. But our attitude also changes. When we entered the market economy, people became both poor and rich. Russia also will reach it.
'As soon as permission was obtained, crowds of people started to leave the place because it always seemed life abroad was better.' Photo: antifashist.com
Still when was the greatest flow of the Jew from Russia?
I did not keep an eye on it. Not many people have left the country in recent years. Many of them went in the 80-90s. Although this number was bigger in the 1990s.
I've heard their bureaucracy is awful…
Yes, we had to witness it. The bureaucracy is awful. It is so bad that they even don't take bribes. It is such a bureaucrat who even does not take money, while our bureaucrat takes the money and solves problems.