Russian Family Flees Germany, Citing Overwhelming Bureaucracy

A Russian travel blogger, Elena Liseykina, recently shared a story about her friends who lived in Germany for 10 years before deciding to sell their home and return to Russia. The family cited 11 reasons for their decision, which Liseykina shared on her blog. One of the main issues they faced was the strict bureaucracy in Germany. For instance, they were not allowed to cut down a tree on their own property without facing fines. They also had to adhere to specific rules regarding the color of their house, the height of their garden, and even the construction of a gazebo. The family was surprised to discover that they had to pay for rainwater runoff from their roof and property, which they found unusual. Additionally, they needed permission to park their car and trailer, and they were not allowed to burn branches from their property. They also had to sort their trash according to strict rules. The final straw was the rule that prohibited them from mowing their lawn on Sundays, which they saw as an invasion of their private time. The family has since moved to the Kaliningrad region, where they have built a gazebo and planted apple trees without any issues. They concluded that they wanted to live in their own home without having to constantly seek permission and follow numerous regulations. This experience is not unique, as another Russian had previously described life in Germany as restrictive, citing the example of a father not being allowed to secretly conduct a DNA test if he doubted his paternity.