For emigrant Benjamin Forster, his old house was too small and too expensive: “I feel freer in Russia than in Switzerland.”

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Benjamin Forster (49) is Swiss – and now also a Russian citizen. Forster lives two hours’ drive from Moscow in the small town of Pereslavl-Zalessky. He speaks fluent Russian, is a master of Cossack swordsmanship – and is making a name for himself as an organic beekeeper in his adopted homeland. A return to Switzerland is no longer an option for Forster.

Forster also seems like a full-blooded Russian. He was probably born in the wrong country, the burly, bearded man laughs in an interview with the Russian news agency Ria Novosti. “I always joke that the stork lost its compass and accidentally took me to the wrong country,” says the Swiss. “In Russia it feels like I have always lived here.”

The Russian war with Ukraine and the global political situation are of no interest to the Zurich resident. He is fully involved in his beekeeping and also gives courses. A self-built log cabin – a cross between a Swiss chalet and a Russian dacha – is not yet completely finished.

Honey with red and white flag

He first visited the region as a young man in the 1990s. He “fell so in love with the city and with Russia that I decided to move here permanently. I bought a piece of land and started beekeeping. First as a hobby. But after a while the new company captivated me – and it quickly became my main job.”

He markets his honey with the Swiss flag. «The European origin brings certain advantages. And I benefit from that,” says the beekeeper. The Swiss flag adorns the labels of its products. This is by no means a fraudulent label: “The Russian is not crazy,” Forster laughs. There is no doubt that he sells Swiss quality in the Russian province.

“In Switzerland you are nothing without money”

Forster says he feels freer in Russia than in Switzerland. One of the biggest advantages of Russia is that there is not the same financial pressure as in Switzerland. “Maybe the general standard of living is higher in Switzerland, but there are many obligations: high taxes, very expensive health insurance.”

When he moved to Russia in 2015, he had the equivalent of $4,000 in his pocket. He bought land and learned the language he did not yet know. “Somehow I made ends meet, growing vegetables in the garden and raising rabbits. And in Switzerland you are nothing without money.”

What seems unimaginable to many Russians: due to the prohibitively high costs, up to 80 percent of people in the Alpine country do not own their own home. “You are tenants,” Forster explains, something unthinkable for many Russians. In Russia, most people have their own land and house.

“Switzerland is too small”

“That makes me feel freer,” says Forster. «Switzerland is too small. The Alps are very high. On the one hand it is very beautiful. On the other hand, it’s like having a wall in front of you all the time. This is reflected in the mentality of many people. The people there are narrow-minded,” Forster explains. “It’s difficult to communicate with them. In Russia there are spaces and people have open souls.”

“I consider myself Russian,” says Forster. And without mentioning the name of Russian President Vladimir Putin (71), he also sees advantages in a leader like Putin – especially in a country like Russia.

Democracy hardly works in Russia

“There is direct democracy in Switzerland. It is probably the only country in the world where so many issues are put to the vote at national level. “Historically, Russia has had only one leader: the Tsar or the communist ruler.”

There is a mentality among people that what is decided at the top will happen: “That’s not a bad thing,” says Forster. “The country is so big, there are so many peoples, languages, religions. I don’t think the Swiss system would work here. There had been unrest for some time.”

“We need someone here in Russia,” says Forster, “who will take matters into his own hands.”

Source: Blick