On Monday, President Vladimir Putin signed a decree allowing foreign citizens and stateless individuals to apply for temporary residency in Russia if they share “traditional Russian spiritual and moral values,” even if they do not speak Russian.
The decree stipulates that individuals who oppose the “destructive neoliberal ideological agenda” in their home countries can seek “humanitarian support” from Russian authorities by applying for a temporary residence permit.
The government and Foreign Ministry have been tasked with creating a list of countries that Moscow considers to be “pursuing a destructive neoliberal agenda” within 30 days.
Under this new “humanitarian” scheme, applicants for temporary residence in Russia will not be required to demonstrate proficiency in the Russian language or knowledge of Russian history and laws.
Russian authorities have been increasingly focused on attracting conservative Westerners to the country, positioning Russia as a “traditional” alternative to what they describe as a morally corrupt West.
In May 2023, officials announced the establishment of a “migrant village” outside Moscow aimed at conservative American expats. At the time, a migration lawyer noted that “around 200 families” were interested in moving to Russia for “ideological reasons.”
Just last week, Russia’s Interior Ministry reported that an American couple and their children had sought “temporary asylum” in the country, citing the “canceling of traditional and family values” and the “low level of education” in the United States.
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