Jeff Monson seeks Russian citizenship
Jeff Monson says he feels “Russian in spirit” and has long desired to become a Russian citizen. He is waiting for a decision on his citizenship application.
Jeff Monson says he feels Russian in spirit and has long desired to become a Russian citizen. He is waiting for a decision from the Russian authorities on his citizenship application.
I feel Russian in spirit, and recently I’ve been spending more and more time in your country, Monson, who in 2013 first spoke of his desire to get Russian citizenship, told an interviewer with the TV channel Dozhd on Friday.
Last year Monson said he will be very glad and happy to receive Russian citizenship.
It takes some time, particularly at the moment, when there are problems – sanctions – between Russia and the US. But I hope that within a couple of months that will be finished.
Monson, who sports two tattoos inked in Russian, the words svoboda [freedom] and solidarnost [solidarity], told the interviewer on Friday that in his opinion, laws in Russia are better observed than in the USA.
The fighter also said that he doesn’t want to enter the ring flanked by an American flag. Previously, he has entered the ring accompanied by the anthem of the Soviet Union.
In February, after competing in and winning a mixed martial arts tournament in Moscow, Monson announced he was donating his appearance fee to the children of the war-torn Donbas region of Ukraine.
I’m donating the whole fee from the fight to the children of Donbas, who are suffering from war. They need this money, explained Monson after the fight.