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In a Sour Season Between the U.K. and Russia, a New Casualty: Debutantes In a Sour Season Between the U.K. and Russia, a New Casualty: Debutantes
(about 4 hours later)
LONDON — Among the casualties of the March poisoning of a former Russian spy, Sergei V. Skripal, is London’s sumptuous Russian Debutante Ball, where, once a year, the daughters of Soviet-born businessmen have been ushered into adult society in an atmosphere of frothy pre-Revolutionary nostalgia.LONDON — Among the casualties of the March poisoning of a former Russian spy, Sergei V. Skripal, is London’s sumptuous Russian Debutante Ball, where, once a year, the daughters of Soviet-born businessmen have been ushered into adult society in an atmosphere of frothy pre-Revolutionary nostalgia.
Elisabeth Smagin-Melloni, who has organized similar coming-out balls for wealthy Russians in 12 cities, said she decided to cancel the sixth annual London event because, in the rancorous atmosphere around the spy scandal, Russians planning to travel for the ball had complained of difficulty getting British visas.Elisabeth Smagin-Melloni, who has organized similar coming-out balls for wealthy Russians in 12 cities, said she decided to cancel the sixth annual London event because, in the rancorous atmosphere around the spy scandal, Russians planning to travel for the ball had complained of difficulty getting British visas.
“Over the summer it became even worse, with all these poisoned spies or not-poisoned spies, and we decided finally at the end of August that we wouldn’t do it,” Ms. Smagin-Melloni said. She said it was the first time she had encountered this problem since she began organizing such events, in 2003.“Over the summer it became even worse, with all these poisoned spies or not-poisoned spies, and we decided finally at the end of August that we wouldn’t do it,” Ms. Smagin-Melloni said. She said it was the first time she had encountered this problem since she began organizing such events, in 2003.
“I am not discussing politics here, I think,” she said. “If I like Mr. Putin or don’t like Mr. Putin should not be an item to be discussed. We should not make a political question out of normal human relationships.”“I am not discussing politics here, I think,” she said. “If I like Mr. Putin or don’t like Mr. Putin should not be an item to be discussed. We should not make a political question out of normal human relationships.”
It has been an anxious season for London’s wealthy Russians.It has been an anxious season for London’s wealthy Russians.
The government is reviewing the residency rights of around 700 well-connected Russians who secured investor visas before 2015, when little effort was made to ensure that their wealth was not acquired through crime or corruption, The Observer reported last week. Officials have also promised to step up the use of “unexplained wealth orders,” which allow the government to freeze the assets of individuals who cannot legally account for their riches.The government is reviewing the residency rights of around 700 well-connected Russians who secured investor visas before 2015, when little effort was made to ensure that their wealth was not acquired through crime or corruption, The Observer reported last week. Officials have also promised to step up the use of “unexplained wealth orders,” which allow the government to freeze the assets of individuals who cannot legally account for their riches.
And next year, Parliament is likely to vote on legislation requiring property owners to register under their real names. Some 40,000 buildings in London are owned anonymously, through companies registered in offshore jurisdictions that allow secrecy, said Rachel Davies Teka, director of advocacy for Transparency International.And next year, Parliament is likely to vote on legislation requiring property owners to register under their real names. Some 40,000 buildings in London are owned anonymously, through companies registered in offshore jurisdictions that allow secrecy, said Rachel Davies Teka, director of advocacy for Transparency International.
But in Londongrad, as the Russian community here is sometimes called, any widespread effect of these measures remains a long way off.But in Londongrad, as the Russian community here is sometimes called, any widespread effect of these measures remains a long way off.
Trevor Abrahmsohn, a real estate agent who sells luxury properties in northwest London, said he had seen Russian purchases of high-end properties pick up over the past 18 months, probably because of the weakness of the pound. He said some of his clients had noted mild disruptions, like heightened searches of private jets arriving from Russia.Trevor Abrahmsohn, a real estate agent who sells luxury properties in northwest London, said he had seen Russian purchases of high-end properties pick up over the past 18 months, probably because of the weakness of the pound. He said some of his clients had noted mild disruptions, like heightened searches of private jets arriving from Russia.
“The truth is, I think that the immigration officers and the Russians being questioned, they all understand that it’s necessary to go through the hoops and hurdles because it is a political imperative, and the government needs to be seen to be taking some measures to curtail Putin’s cronies,” Mr. Abrahmsohn said. Business people close to the Kremlin, he added, are already heavily invested in Britain, having educated their children in elite schools.“The truth is, I think that the immigration officers and the Russians being questioned, they all understand that it’s necessary to go through the hoops and hurdles because it is a political imperative, and the government needs to be seen to be taking some measures to curtail Putin’s cronies,” Mr. Abrahmsohn said. Business people close to the Kremlin, he added, are already heavily invested in Britain, having educated their children in elite schools.
“It doesn’t really make any difference,” Mr. Abrahmsohn said. “Life goes on for the Russians.”“It doesn’t really make any difference,” Mr. Abrahmsohn said. “Life goes on for the Russians.”
But the ball, usually held in November, apparently will not.But the ball, usually held in November, apparently will not.
Ms. Smagin-Melloni — a Viennese linguist who organized her first Russian debutante ball in Moscow in 2003 and rapidly expanded to Rome; Biarritz, France; and Baden-Baden, Germany — insists on gold-braided military-style uniforms and evening gowns with tiaras.Ms. Smagin-Melloni — a Viennese linguist who organized her first Russian debutante ball in Moscow in 2003 and rapidly expanded to Rome; Biarritz, France; and Baden-Baden, Germany — insists on gold-braided military-style uniforms and evening gowns with tiaras.
Young women must audition — “I never reject them for how they look, if they are not really elephants” — and ticket prices range from $380 to $780, based on distance from the dance floor. Her goal is to transport the women to the final years of czarist Russia, a period of history she says was stripped from them by 74 years of Communist rule. Young women must audition, and ticket prices range from $380 to $780, based on distance from the dance floor. Her goal is to transport the women to the final years of czarist Russia, a period of history she says was stripped from them by 74 years of Communist rule.
“They are not rooted at all,” Ms. Smagin-Melloni said. “Their roots have been taken away.”“They are not rooted at all,” Ms. Smagin-Melloni said. “Their roots have been taken away.”
She pays close attention to commentary about Russia. In March, after Mr. Skripal was found slumped on a bench in the city of Salisbury, she noticed a sharp rise in anti-Russian comments on the ball’s Facebook page. Already, Britain’s plan to leave the European Union had raised a swarm of visa questions for her clients. At the end of August, Ms. Smagin-Melloni decided to pull the plug.She pays close attention to commentary about Russia. In March, after Mr. Skripal was found slumped on a bench in the city of Salisbury, she noticed a sharp rise in anti-Russian comments on the ball’s Facebook page. Already, Britain’s plan to leave the European Union had raised a swarm of visa questions for her clients. At the end of August, Ms. Smagin-Melloni decided to pull the plug.
“I think all these politics, sorry for saying that, they are all crazy,” she said.“I think all these politics, sorry for saying that, they are all crazy,” she said.
Ms. Smagin-Melloni is shifting her attention to China, a nation whose yearning for Viennese balls is, if anything, more ardent, she says. She said she hoped the London Russian Debutante Ball would resume in a year or two, when Britain and Russia are on friendlier terms.Ms. Smagin-Melloni is shifting her attention to China, a nation whose yearning for Viennese balls is, if anything, more ardent, she says. She said she hoped the London Russian Debutante Ball would resume in a year or two, when Britain and Russia are on friendlier terms.
“Very often the situation is changing very quickly, so it might be that there would be another politician in power, maybe May won’t be there, maybe there will be a new party,” she said, referring to Prime Minister Theresa May.“Very often the situation is changing very quickly, so it might be that there would be another politician in power, maybe May won’t be there, maybe there will be a new party,” she said, referring to Prime Minister Theresa May.
Anastasia Kuatkhina, 28, a designer from St. Petersburg who attended the London ball in 2017, said it evoked the ball scenes in Leo Tolstoy’s “War and Peace” and “Anna Karenina,” and also provided fertile networking opportunities. She had already begun work on a ball gown, open-backed, with a tulip-shaped magenta skirt, and accepted an invitation to this year’s event from a friend, Lord Michael Buckmaster-Brown.Anastasia Kuatkhina, 28, a designer from St. Petersburg who attended the London ball in 2017, said it evoked the ball scenes in Leo Tolstoy’s “War and Peace” and “Anna Karenina,” and also provided fertile networking opportunities. She had already begun work on a ball gown, open-backed, with a tulip-shaped magenta skirt, and accepted an invitation to this year’s event from a friend, Lord Michael Buckmaster-Brown.
“It’s a pity, because when you see the fabric, you can imagine how it would swirl and move when you are dancing,” Ms. Kuatkhina said. “Maybe I can wear it to another ball.”“It’s a pity, because when you see the fabric, you can imagine how it would swirl and move when you are dancing,” Ms. Kuatkhina said. “Maybe I can wear it to another ball.”