Russian businessmen in Spain: "We are not criminals"

Russian businessmen in Spain: "We are not criminals"

Recently "Sur" interviewed representatives of two Russian families living in Marbella, asking them to share their experience of making business in Spain. It turned out that both families had faced with bureaucracy and now they are thinking to invest in another country, according to ee24.com citing noticia.ru.

One of the families had sold the business in Moscow, Russia and moved to Marbella, Spain more than five years ago. The couple made an auto rental business but after the crisis the family began to work at the real estate market. Recently the Spanish authorities refused in obtaining a residence permit for the head of the family who has three kids. According to law, during first 5 years in Spain it is prohibited for an applicant to stay more than 10 months outside of the country.

"Obviously, he was abroad. You can't sell a house in Marbella to Russian citizens by phone. It can never happen", explained the wife. She also noticed that they pay taxes, their children go at Spanish school, and their daughter even has a Spanish passport. "We are not criminals", she said.

Now the family will try to get the residence permit with the help of lawyers or even withdraw its funds from Spain. They are already thinking about Florida, the US, not least because their friends spoke well of business dealing in this state. 

The second Russian family who was interviewed by "Sur" is trying to get a loan in Marbella. The family faced with the strange behavior of the bank. At first, the folowing mortgage scheme was approved: the bank offered to give a loan of 50% of the house price, and the family had to pay the remaining amount in eight payments. Now, however, the bank revokes its own offer, calling it "unreliable".

Russian businessmen do not understand why everything is so difficult.