In response to ongoing tensions with the West, Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a new decree allowing foreign citizens and stateless individuals to apply for temporary residency in Russia.
This decree aims to provide a safe haven for people who share “traditional Russian spiritual and moral values” and are looking to escape what they view as the harmful effects of Western neoliberal policies. Those who oppose these Western ideals can now apply for temporary residence in Russia under this new “humanitarian support” program, VisaGuide.World reports.
The program bypasses traditional quotas and removes the requirement for proof of Russian language skills, knowledge of Russian history and understanding of Russian laws, the Moscow Times explains.
Russia to Issue 3-Month Visas & List ‘Destructive Neoliberal’ Countries for Conservative Refugees”
The Russian government and Foreign Ministry are tasked with collecting a list of countries that Moscow considers “pursuing a destructive neoliberal agenda” within the next 30 days. The ministry has also been ordered to start issuing three-month visas to applicants as early as September.
By eliminating these requirements, Russia aims to simplify the process for those disappointed with their countries’ liberal policies and seek refuge in a nation they believe upholds more conservative principles.
According to reports from Russian state media, such a move underscores its stance against Western liberalism, with Russia declaring itself a sanctuary for individuals from Western countries who wish to distance themselves from what it describes as “destructive neoliberal ideas.”
These ideals are supposedly at odds with what Russia defines as traditional Russian spiritual and moral values, which it claims are being undermined by Western attitudes.
Moreover, in 2019, he described Germany’s approach to immigration from the Middle East as a “cardinal mistake.”
The liberal idea presupposes that nothing needs to be done. The migrants can kill, plunder and rape with impunity because their rights as migrants must be protected. What rights are these? Every crime must have its punishment.
Given that Russia positions itself against Western ideals, in May 2023, Russian authorities introduced a “migrant village” near Moscow specifically for conservative American immigrants, with around 200 families reportedly expressing interest in relocating for ideological reasons. At the same time, Putin’s criticism of the West as “satanic” and his condemnation of the rejection of “moral norms” and “traditional values” have been recurring themes in his speeches.
In his 2023 Victory Day speech, he accused “Western globalist elites” of undermining core human values. Meanwhile, the Russian Interior Ministry recently reported that an American family sought temporary asylum in Russia, citing the perceived erosion of traditional and family values and educational standards in the United States.