Russia is set to offer a safe haven for foreigners seeking to escape what it calls “destructive neoliberal ideals” in their home countries, according to a new decree signed by President Vladimir Putin.
- According to the Russian state news agency TASS, Foreign nationals will be able to apply for temporary residence in Russia without meeting typical language and history requirements.
- Applicants must cite rejection of their home country’s “neoliberal” policies to seek refuge.
- The Russian government will compile a list of countries it deems as “imposing unhealthy attitudes” on its citizens, which could include places like the United Kingdom, France, Canada, and the United States.
Why it matters: The move signals Russia’s increasing efforts to position itself as a global defender of what it believes to be “traditional values” in opposition to increasingly decadent Western liberal norms.
- The Russian Foreign Ministry will begin issuing three-month visas to eligible applicants as early as September.
- This policy aligns with Putin’s broader strategy of presenting Russia as a counterweight to Western cultural influence. In February, Putin expressed support for easing entry rules for those who share Russia’s views on traditional cultural and family values.
The bottom line: While framed as a humanitarian gesture, this policy likely ensures Russia’s ideological positioning on the global stage and comes amid a series of victories in its ongoing special military operation in Ukraine.
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