In April 2021, the Russian edition of RT received a letter from 35-year-old US resident Alex Pick.

The young man said that his real name was Alexander Timofeev.

He was born in Leningrad in 1986.

When he was eight years old, due to family problems, Alex, along with his younger brother and sister, ended up in an orphanage.

In 1997, they were adopted by a married couple from America - this is how they ended up in the USA.

Error in documents

In the letter, Alex emphasized that all these years he wanted to return to his homeland and find his mother.

“I remember the yard where we lived.

It's on Moskovsky Prospekt.

The last time I saw my mother was in the winter.

I was playing in the yard and had to return home for dinner, but a policeman approached me and asked me to go with him to the car.

Mom was already there.

We were taken to the department, and the last thing she said to me was: “I hope to see you again soon.”

We never met again,” Alex recalled.

When he started preparing documents for returning to his homeland, it turned out that a mistake had been made in the adoption case.

The papers were then signed by an ordinary state judge, not a federal one, so the young man, who had lived in America for almost 24 years, was not a US citizen.

Alex asked RT to help him return to Russia.

The editors asked the US resident for copies of documents confirming his story, as well as a certificate of no criminal record.

In turn, the Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Houston conducted an inspection, as a result of which, in September, Alex was issued a Russian passport, and soon he flew to Moscow.

"I feel Russian"

In the capital of Russia, Alex rented an apartment and got a job as an English tutor in a private kindergarten.

“I am glad that in a fairly short time I managed to find a good place to live, work and a decent salary to start life anew.

So far, everything is going as I planned, ”says Alex.

According to him, the Russians are very responsive and kind, and this is amazing. 

“Most of all, I am amazed at how people interact with each other.

Everyone wants to help each other.

Now I feel more Russian than ever,” the man says.

In addition to his main activities, Alex works as a volunteer at the Aviation Museum in Monino: he conducts excursions, helps with the repair of aviation equipment.

In her free time, she visits a fitness club and also takes Russian lessons.

  • Alex Peak in St. Petersburg

  • RT

During the New Year holidays, Alex, together with the RT team, went to the city of his childhood - St. Petersburg, to find out information about his mother and find the house where he lived.

In the city of childhood

Driving through the streets of St. Petersburg, Alex remembered and recognized his home on Moskovsky Prospekt next to the Ukraina Hotel.

According to him, little has changed in these places since he walked here as a child.

Alex also recognized the apartment where he lived until he ended up in an orphanage.

However, the neighbors did not remember either Alex or his mother, but confirmed that an elderly woman with a small dog lived in the indicated communal apartment.

Alex remembers her well.

RT managed to find a man who knew Alex's mother.

He said that at some point Svetlana Timofeeva disappeared without a trace, and her further fate is unknown to him.

“That was over ten years ago.

She just disappeared.

I don’t know what happened to her, ”said the interlocutor of RT.

As RT found out, Alex's mother died in April 2012.

The woman herself was an orphan from an orphanage and had no relatives. 

“The truth is bitter.

Until recently, I hoped that she was alive and well.

Now I will do my best to find her grave, because I want to honor her memory.

I don’t wish anyone to go through this,” Alex sighs.

Also in St. Petersburg, Alex learned that in April of this year the orphanage in which he was brought up would celebrate its anniversary - a meeting of "graduates" was planned.

According to Alex, he had already decided that he would definitely come to the meeting. 

In addition, Alex has a dream - to work in the United Aircraft Corporation.

“I believe that they are leaders in all areas of aerospace technology.

And even if I work as a simple technician or logistics manager, but on the latest MS-21 aircraft with a completely Russian PD-14 engine, I will know that my modest work is moving Russia forward.

And at the same time, I will be able to continue my career in aviation – isn’t this a dream come true?” says Alex. 

Also watch the film on the RTD website.