The former Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl, who left her country due to threats and accusations of relations with Russia, decided to settle in Russia – after settling in Lebanon for a while – and rented a house in the village of Petrushovo in the Ryazan region.
The former Austrian Foreign Minister said to a local newspaper that her acquaintances had helped her rent housing in Petrosovo.
“I paid the rent for another month, and then we’ll see… I don’t know anything about my future, nothing,” Kneissl said.
Kneissl says she continues to write books and teach at Petrosovo, and has been invited to work at the Gorky Center at St. Petersburg University.
The university’s website lists Karen Kneissl as president of the center.
Kneissl added, “It wasn’t easy to come here, but I’m trying to find my way, even though it’s not easy… I like it here, this village is very beautiful”.
“I started working, and I continue to teach and learn, write my books, and learn the Russian language… I had to leave my old life and start over, which at the age of 60 wasn’t easy”.
Kneissl arrived in Petrochovo after the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum SPIEF, last June.
Karin Kneissl headed the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 2017 to 2019.
This position was held by the far-right Austrian Freedom Party, which in 2016 concluded a cooperation agreement with Russia.
In 2018, the former minister attracted media attention when she danced at her wedding with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
She forced to leave Austria due to receiving threats related to her relationship with Russia, and she had previously chosen Lebanon to reside.
Kneissl told Russian TASS news Agency, on June 15 on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum that she was seriously considering moving to live in Russia.
