Germany is widely regarded as one of the most democratic countries in the world, but for Carola Griesbach and her family it is nothing more that a dictatorship that they just had to escape from. So they hopped in their Volkswagen van and drove 1,400 miles to Moscow’s red Square where they are now asking for political asylum.

51-year-old Carola, her husband Andre, their two daughters – Julia and Dominique – and four grandchildren arrived in Moscow on New Year’s Eve in 2015, hoping to start a new life. They have since been living in a small motel in a forest on the outskirts of the Russian capital, as they wait for their asylum request to be accepted by the Government. Only that’s not likely to happen anytime soon, as authorities consider Germany a “safe” country, so the Griesbachs’ request is unfounded.

Photo: Egg.ru

However, Andre and Carola disagree. They claim that the 1918 agreement between Russia and Germany to stop fighting was not a proper peace treaty, so the two countries are technically still at war, and it is Russia’s duty to protect them. “We don’t feel like Germany is a safe place for us, or to bring up children,” Andre said. “We have been worried ever since we staged a protest against the German Government outside the Bundestag from September to December 2013.”

Photo: Carola Griesbach/Facebook

“People believe Germany is a democracy but it’s not,” the 45-year-old asylum seeker adds. “Russian society is much better, and Putin is a much better example of a leader. The German state is corrupt, so he is much more democratic than Merkel.”

Among the many reasons that pushed them to immigrate to Russia, the German family cites the large number of refugees welcomed into their country, corruption, the early sexualisation of children, and forced immunization.

“They are inviting all the immigrants over so they can stir up trouble in the country and start the war the government wants,” Andre said. “No country but Germany wants so many foreigners in their country.”

Photo: Egg.ru

“The child protection services are so quick to take children away from their parents. They get paid to do it, and it’s almost like child trafficking. We were worried it would happen to us,” he added. “And the children are sexualised far too early through clothes and pictures and books. There’s no way to fight against it. It’s a lot better in Russia. They care about the family and put it first.”

“It’s not safe for children or women in Germany anymore,” Carola Griesbach complains. “Everyone knows the situation in the German media, and on the relationship between migrants and violence is. The media reports on a small part. The Police rarely look into cases, because they are prevented from doing so by the system or they are attacked by the so-called asylum seekers.”

Photo: Egg.ru

The Griesbach family are rapidly burning through their savings, but claim that the Russian people have helped them very much. “As we don’t have much money left, we are relying on the good will of local people to help us,” Andre says. “But the Russian people are unbelievably helpful. No one can beat them in this respect. We certainly would not get this kind of help from Germans, because they are far too selfish.”

The man claims to have already been offered several jobs, which he would love to accept, because they want to work for a living, not accept handouts. But because the family left in a hurry, without procuring necessary paperwork, like visas, finding employment in Russia is tricky. They are determined to stay, though, and hope that the Government will accept their asylum request in the end. “We are really hoping we can stay. We are really free here,” the Griesbachs said.

Photo: Carola Griesbach/Facebook

Regarding the family and friends they left behind in Germany, Andre says they were a little upset that they didn’t tell them about their plans until they arrived in Russia, but they now keep in touch through social media sites like Facebook. “We won’t see them again unless they come here to visit, he says. “Going anywhere in the EU is out of the question for us.”

Unsurprisingly, the Griesbachs were ridiculed online by many of their compatriots. “Quite honestly, I don’t know whether I should laugh or cry because of the children,” one commenter wrote.

“It’s a shame that the children have to suffer for the idiocy of the parents and grandparents. Irresponsible and antisocial!” another added.

Sources: Daily Mail, Egg.ru, VICE.de