Russia will become a “sanctuary” for foreigners who want to escape a “destructive neoliberal ideology”.
In a decree from Putin, it is stated that people should be able to get a residence permit, if they are forced to adopt policies that are against Russian values.
– It’s only about sexual politics and they don’t talk about anything else, it’s pure propaganda, says Tova Höjdestrand, docent in social anthropology at Lund University.
In a decree, signed by the Russian president, it is stated that one must provide “humanitarian support” to those people who share traditional Russian spiritual and moral values.
Foreign citizens must – even if they do not know Russian or have any previous knowledge of Russian history – be able to apply for a temporary residence permit. According to the decree, the Russian government must now produce a list of which countries are “imposing” “destructive neoliberal ideology” on their citizens.
The researcher: “Only about sexual politics”
The move from Putin is about building the narrative that people with traditional values are oppressed and persecuted, according to Tova Höjdestrand. She believes that the concept of neoliberalism is a contentless slogan for the Kremlin – it refers to sexuality, children and family.
– Their definition does not refer to larger societal issues such as the economy and the public sector, it is only about sexual politics and they are not talking about anything else, it is pure propaganda, says Tova Höjdestrand,
Not the first time that traditionalists seek Russia
Despite the fact that the decree from Putin is new, Höjdestrand points out that families with traditional values have previously applied to Russia, but then it was about families where at least one of the parents came from Russia.
– Quite a few years ago, families moved to Russia thinking that they would have their children taken care of due to traditional upbringing methods, there were a few such cases.
Russia is trying to create an image of itself as a country that defends traditional values, something they have succeeded in, Tova Höjdestrand believes.
– Russia is moving on and unfortunately they have succeeded in building up this image of Russia as the ancient mother of traditional values.
Left the US and thanks Putin
Last week, the Russian Ministry of the Interior stated that an American family had moved to Russia, and had been granted asylum. The family, which comes from New York, is said to have moved to Russia to settle permanently. In a film, the parents of the family stand with their Russian documents in their hands and thank the Russian people and President Putin.
– It feels just like me if I have married Russia, I look forward to building a future here with my family, says the mother in the family.
The reason, according to the statement, is that the parents were worried about the children’s schooling and the lack of traditional family values in the United States.