There are 20 large Spanish companies that continue to operate in Russia despite the invasion of Ukraine. This is the case, among others, of Maxam, which produces iron in the Urals, lead in Siberia and diamonds in Alrosa. or of Antolin, which landed in Russia in 2011 to accompany automotive customers to whom it supplies components such as headliners or door interiors. But also, Russia has the support of six spanish from as many other autonomous communities that have been named honorary consuls and whose job is promote Y to help to improve the image of the country he leads Vladimir Putin boost the bilateral relations and support Russian citizens settled in Spain.
They are men and women who keep close business relationships, business or personal with Russia and whom that country distinguishes with an appointment and the responsibility of promoting Russia and supporting the consul in serving the community of the country they represent.
Profile of an honorary consul
Thus a honorary consul Russian in Spain is usually a person with great ties to Russia and who works as an assistant or delegate to the Russian consul in those cities where there is no consulate, but there is a large community of Russian residents.
The honorary consuls have not been affected by the decision of the government to expel 27 diplomats or workers from the Russian Embassy in Madridbut because of the problems that Russian citizens face as a result of the sanctions.
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In Spain, according to the website of the Russian embassy in Madrid, there are six Spaniards who serve as honorary Russian consuls in the Canary Islands, Andalusia, Castilla y León, Valencia, the Balearic Islands and Galicia.
These are the six honorary consuls of Russia in Spain:
Businessman Pedro Mourino, honorary consul of Russia in Vigo and CEO of the company IberAtlantic, is dedicated to facilitating and mediating the implementation of Russian projects in Spain. He recently tried to reach an agreement between the Russian Direct Investment Fund and the biopharmaceutical company Zendal, based in Porriño (Pontevedra), to produce the Russian vaccine against coovid, Sputnik V, in Spain.
Sebastià Roig i Montserrat, in the Balearic Islands
In the Balearic Islands, the honorary consul of Russia is the promoter and former director general of the Interior of the Government of the Community, Sebastià Roig i Montserratfounder of the NGO Infants of the Mon who for decades has been in charge of bringing children from Russian orphanages to spend their vacations on the islands, many of them victims of the nuclear catastrophe in Chernobyl.
For this work, the Russian president himself, Vladimir Putin, distinguished him in 2018 with the Order of Friendship, which recognizes the work of foreign people who work to improve relations with Russia.
Esther Morell García, in Andalusia
In Andalusia, Russia has been represented since 2010 by the businesswoman Esther Morell Garcia, which has offices in Seville, Malaga and Marbella. from where passport renewals, civil status certificates and studies are processed, in addition to all the documentary procedures required by the Russian population registered in the area.
Gonzalo Parada, in the Canary Islands
For years, the honorary consul of Russia in the Canary Islands is, Gonzalo Parada, ex-partner of a Russian citizen and who has recently had several trials for family problems. It has offices in Tenerife and Las Palmas.
Pedro Ballvé Lantero, in Burgos until he died
Another honorary consulate of Russia in Spain is, according to the website of the Russian embassy and the list that appears in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, that of Burgos. It was occupied since 2005 by the businessman from Burgos Pedro Ballve Lanteroformer president of Campofriowho passed away in 2009 and whose position has apparently become vacant.
Ramon Congost, in Valencia
Finally, the position of honorary consul in Valencia According to the same website, they are occupied by the businessman from the real estate sector Ramon Congost Vallés, who was managing director of the Technological Institute of Construction AIDICO, which belongs to the Network of Technological Institutes of the Valencian Community (REDIT), the Spanish Federation of Innovation and Technology Entities (FEDIT) and the Spanish Network of Construction Institutes (REIC).
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Eddie is an Australian news reporter with over 9 years in the industry and has published on Forbes and tech crunch.