Compatriots behind enemy lines – Picture of the Day – Kommersant

The Duma faction “A Just Russia – For the Truth” (SRZP) held a round table on Monday on topical problems of the “Russian World”. The participants of the event discussed how to help compatriots abroad and simplify the procedure for their return to Russia, and also proposed the creation of an institution for their protection and the introduction of a compatriot card, which gives the right to visa-free entry to the Russian Federation.

Opening the round table, the leader of the SRHR, Sergei Mironov, said that about 30 million compatriots live abroad, and now, when “rabid Russophobia has blossomed” in unfriendly countries, their life is becoming “restless and even dangerous.” There is a need to return to their homeland, which does not always meet them with open arms: there are problems with obtaining citizenship, employment, etc., the party member complained. “It is high time to establish the institution of the commissioner for the rights of compatriots under the President of the Russian Federation. This will remove the costs of a narrow departmental approach to these problems on the part of various structures,” suggested Mr. Mironov. He also considers it necessary to simplify as much as possible the procedure for obtaining citizenship for compatriots: such a procedure is envisaged by the bill on citizenship, which the deputies of the SRZP prepared last summer.

Recall that the new presidential bill “On Citizenship” Duma accepted in the first reading a year ago, and the second was planned April 11, but the consideration was postponed. The head of the Duma Committee on CIS Affairs, Leonid Kalashnikov (KPRF), explained that he had decided to hold additional consultations on granting citizenship to foreigners who serve in the Russian army. On April 17, the committee approved an amendment on the simplified admission to citizenship of foreigners who have signed a contract for service in the RF Armed Forces for a period of at least one year. The second reading of the bill is scheduled for April 18.

Sergei Mironov spoke about another proposal of the Social Revolutionaries – the introduction of a compatriot card, which would give the right to visa-free entry to the Russian Federation and remove the problems associated with obtaining temporary registration. And deputy Aleksey Chepa added that this proposal was discussed both in the Federation Council and in the presidential administration, where they “praised the achievements” of the Socialist-Revolutionaries. “This year, perhaps, the card will work,” Mr. Chepa said optimistically.

Tatyana Moskalkova, the Commissioner for Human Rights in Russia, stated: “Today, when the international protection of human rights has practically collapsed, not a single international body has reacted to Russophobia.” She recalled that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the UN Declaration of Human Rights and “today there is not a single article in it that has not been violated precisely on the principle of discrimination against the Russian-speaking population.” Among such trampled rights, Ms. Moskalkova mentioned the rights to freedom of movement, to choose a profession and to use their own property: “We are approached by citizens who are forced to sell their property for a penny, and they cannot use the proceeds from the sale.” In addition, many Russians living abroad cannot obtain a Russian passport there, and it is sometimes impossible to come to Russia for one, including for financial reasons (see “Kommersant” dated April 18). The Ombudswoman also expressed hope for the re-establishment of the CIS Human Rights Commission, “so that it becomes a new dialogue integration platform,” and invited deputies to participate in this work.

Vitaly Yakovlev, Deputy Head of the Main Directorate for Migration Affairs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, reported on the results of the state program to promote the voluntary resettlement of compatriots. Since 2007, more than 1.2 million people have moved to Russia through it, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs is “constantly working to update the document.” Thus, in order to simplify the procedure, compatriots living in unfriendly states received the right to apply not only in the country of permanent residence, but also at the place of residence. Also, Mr. Yakovlev promised that the Ministry of Internal Affairs will join the work on the proposals that have been made.

Then the compatriots themselves took the floor. Elena Branson, chairman of the coordinating council of the organization of Russian compatriots in the United States, spoke about how in America she was declared an agent of foreign influence, after which she was forced to return to Russia.

“I lived in the US for about ten years and felt like I was behind enemy lines,” Ms. Branson admitted.

According to her, after 2014, the Russian diaspora in the United States has rallied and many want to move to Russia. But, for example, Orthodox Americans who want to “buy a house in the countryside in Russia and live in a society that supports traditional values” are not eligible for the compatriot resettlement program.

Aleksey Esakov, coordinator of the Immortal Regiment in Tallinn, who was deported from Estonia in May 2022, also noted: “In unfriendly countries, our compatriots are now like partisans behind the front line.” And one of the main problems when moving, he called registration at the place of residence, which has to be “done according to a corruption scheme for money.” Therefore, the activist proposed to make it so that registration could be obtained at the place of residence with a phone number without reference to the owner of the living space.

Sputnik correspondent in Latvia Aleksey Stefanov complained that the period for consideration of an application for obtaining a residence permit in Russia is four months, during which a person cannot work and receive income, and besides, you have to pay twice for registration, which is given for three month. In addition, “the Ministry of Internal Affairs puts spokes in the wheels of those who submit documents,” he added: “Employees kick back because of every comma.” According to him, in the near future a large number of people may be expelled from the Baltic states and it is necessary to think in advance about where to place them.

As a result of the discussion, Alexander Romanovich, a member of the Central Control and Auditing Commission of the SRZP, promised that the Social Revolutionaries would take into account all the suggestions made in their plans.

Ksenia Veretennikova