Former Austrian Foreign Minister Kneissl noted the safety of life in Russia

Former Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl spoke about the sense of security she felt after moving to Russia. She informed Izvestia about this on June 20 at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF-2025).

According to Kneissl, she feels much safer in Russia than in European countries. She clarified that the security problem has affected many countries, including European ones.

"Yes, I feel safe in Russia. I always say that the things I can do here now would not be possible in Austria. For example, I'm taking the night train to Ryazan, waiting for my train at the train station — and just waiting at the train station in the province is no longer possible in Germany or Austria," she shared.

She admitted that the process of adapting to life in another country is still underway. For example, Kneissl still has problems with the Russian language even two years after moving to Russia. In addition, as she got older, she had health problems.

At the same time, the former head of the Austrian Foreign Ministry purchased a house in the Ryazan region and is currently engaged in its renovation. Kneissl also travels with lectures to different regions of Russia. She was in Yekaterinburg, Khabarovsk and Veliky Novgorod.

In March, Kneissl spoke about her experience of rural life in a Ryazan village. She also called the village "a completely different world" and admitted that it was there that she found her Russia.