Moscow, September 21, 2024 — The Europe Today: Russia has officially listed 47 countries whose “destructive neoliberal attitudes” contradict its traditional values, enabling citizens of these nations to seek asylum and residency in Russia. The move comes following a decree signed by President Vladimir Putin last month, allowing foreigners who reject the “neoliberal” agendas of their home countries to apply for residency in Russia.
On Friday, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin published the list of nations implementing policies that Moscow says impose values that conflict with Russian spiritual and moral beliefs. The list includes countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, France, Japan, and several other Western nations. Notably absent from the list are Slovakia, Hungary, and Türkiye, all of which are members of NATO, though they have avoided being designated as promoting such values.
Most of these countries have already been listed on Russia’s “unfriendly” government register, which was first compiled in 2021. Nations on this blacklist face Russian diplomatic and economic countermeasures due to their hostile conduct.
RT Editor-in-Chief Margarita Simonyan recently emphasized Russia’s position as a “safe haven for normalcy” during the Fourth Eurasian Women’s Forum in St. Petersburg, highlighting the country’s defense of traditional values against what she described as a “wokeism catastrophe” that dominates much of the Western world.
Under the decree signed by Putin in August, nationals of these “destructive neoliberal” countries can seek temporary residence in Russia without the usual immigration requirements, such as Russian language proficiency or knowledge of Russian history and laws. This initiative aims to attract individuals who share Russia’s cultural and family values, further bolstering the nation’s demographic stability.
The concept of easing immigration for like-minded foreigners was first proposed during a symposium in February, where Italian student Irene Cecchini urged President Putin to streamline the process for those who uphold Russia’s values. The proposal is part of a broader effort to attract individuals aligned with Russia’s cultural ideology while combating the demographic challenges facing the country.
