Kathrine Frich
The hypocrisy is as striking as it is shameless.
The hypocrisy is as striking as it is shameless.
Kremlin Propagandists at Europe’s Beaches
While railing against the West on Russian state media, many of the Kremlin’s top propagandists are quietly vacationing — or even living — in the very countries they publicly condemn.
An investigation by The Insider reveals a revealing contradiction: fierce anti-Western rhetoric at home, but a soft spot for Europe’s beaches, villas, and luxury apartments abroad.
Paris Calling: Anatoly Kuzicev’s French Affair
Anatoly Kuzicev, co-host of the Kremlin-backed talk show Time Will Tell, regularly denounces Western values on Russian television.
Yet, travel records show he’s a frequent visitor to Paris, and also partial to Amsterdam, Barcelona, Venice, and even the U.S.
Despite his aggressive rhetoric, including mocking French President Macron on Telegram, Kuzicev returns time and again to the European cities he criticizes.
Spain’s Costa Brava: Mikhail Demin’s Mediterranean Hideaway
Mikhail Demin, head of TPO Red Media (part of Gazprom-Media), owns four properties in Spain, including a penthouse in Barcelona and a villa with a pool in Lloret de Mar.
Though his employer is sanctioned by the U.S. and Canada, Demin remains untouched by EU sanctions, allowing him to continue enjoying his Spanish real estate while pushing Kremlin-approved narratives at home.
Propaganda and Pasta: Alexander Zharov in Italy
Alexander Zharov, the powerful head of Gazprom-Media and former chief of Russia’s internet watchdog, seems particularly fond of Italy.
Travel data links him to frequent stays in Rome, Naples, and Pisa.
Now earning nearly $13,000 a day, Zharov oversees a vast propaganda machine, but prefers to unwind in the cultural capitals of a Europe he publicly denounces.
Croatian Getaways: Ekaterina Avaliani’s Adriatic Escapes
REN TV production director Ekaterina Avaliani has posted sun-soaked snaps from Split, Croatia, on Instagram.
Once a presenter at VGTRK, she now helps shape narratives at a station tied to Kremlin financier Yuri Kovalchuk.
Her travel log includes Greece, Switzerland, Estonia, and Italy, hardly a list befitting someone aligned with “Russophobic” enemies of the state.
Swiss Sojourns: Sergei Zenin and Geneva’s Quiet Charms
Despite his role as a so-called “war correspondent” for Rossiya-1,
Sergei Zenin has traveled frequently to Geneva, where his in-laws live. His wife, Katerina Abramova, is also a Kremlin-aligned media figure.
Together, they split their time between Moscow luxury and the safety of neutral Switzerland, even as they attack Western “decadence” on Russian TV.
Berlin Bound: Vladimir Kondratiev’s German Ties
Vladimir Kondratiev, once a familiar face at Putin press events, has long-standing connections with Germany.
He led NTV’s German bureau in the ’90s and still regularly travels to Berlin, despite his channel’s anti-German segments.
Putin has personally congratulated him on milestone birthdays, yet Kondratiev continues to enjoy a country his network portrays as hostile.
Munich Meetups and Mediterranean Retreats
The beaches and boulevards of southern Europe host more than just tourists.
Darya Pugacheva of Gazprom-Media and popular presenter Dmitry Guberniev have been spotted in Munich.
Meanwhile, Alexander Gordon, a Channel One host known for on-air Western critiques, favors Barcelona and Malaga.
Their holiday habits tell a story their shows never will.
Greek Getaways: Sun, Sea, and State Media Stars
Athens, Heraklion, and Thessaloniki are regular destinations for several Russian media personalities.
Among them: Anastasia Chernobrovina of Morning of Russia, VGTRK deputy Igor Shestakov, and REN TV host Pyotr Marcenko.
All are vocal defenders of the Kremlin’s position, yet find themselves drawn to the warm hospitality of NATO-member Greece.
Sanctions? Not for Everyone
While some Kremlin-linked outlets face sanctions, many top media figures remain free to travel in Europe.
At least 70 high-profile propagandists have not been sanctioned by the EU, letting them enjoy properties and vacations in countries they claim are morally and politically bankrupt.
