Russia Is Finally Facilitating The Emigration Of Western Socio-Cultural Dissidents
Even those like-minded folks who don’t take up this opportunity will still appreciate that they’re always welcome there, which will go a long way towards winning more hearts and minds in the West.
Putin signed a decree on Monday liberalizing his country’s immigration system to facilitate the emigration of Western socio-cultural dissidents who oppose their homelands’ neoliberal ideology. Renowned Russian immigration lawyer Timur Beslangurov, whose excellent services can be solicited from his website, translated the full text in a post on his “Moving To Russia” Telegram channel. He then thanked Duma member Maria Butina for helping to make this “revolutionary” move happen.
That’s not hyperbole either since Russia hitherto had some of the strictest and most byzantine immigration procedures in the world, though only for applicants from outside the former USSR. It was even cautioned in February that “Russia’s Embrace Of Traditional Values-Espousing Immigrants Won’t Be As Simple As Some Think” precisely for that reason. Interested immigrants were advised to learn Russian at a semi-decent level if they wanted any realistic chance of moving there and making a living.
The new decree changes all of that by removing the language, history, and knowledge of law requirements for applying for temporary residency and even getting rid of the hated quota system. There’ll also be a streamlined procedure for granting three-month single-entry visas. To paraphrase the famous saying, “Russians take a while to saddle up, but when they finally ride, they ride fast.” This development was a long time coming and the result of lots of hard work, but it’s now a reality.
What this means is that anyone who opposes the West’s liberal-globalist socio-cultural policies has the opportunity to start a new life in Russia, though that’ll still of course be easier said than done if they actually decide to come there. They’ll have to have enough money saved up to rent a place or at least a hostel, not to mention to support themselves until they find a job, which is difficult to do until they receive their temporary residency permit.
In the meantime, it would obviously be a good idea for them to take Russian lessons, and some might freelance teaching English (perhaps as a quid pro quo) until they can legally join a teaching company. That, publicly financed media, farming, and specialized tech services are the most likely jobs that Western socio-cultural dissidents will end up having if they move to Russia since options are greatly limited for non-Russian speakers seeing as how few people there speak a foreign language at any level.
It might therefore be an admittedly intimidating and overwhelming experience for the average Westerner who decides to start a new life in Russia, thus leading to only the most passionate ones taking the plunge as well as those without the “baggage” (real estate, dependents, etc.) that could hinder this. Nevertheless, it should come as a huge relief for all of them to know that they still have this opportunity if they ever feel that they can’t comfortably live in their homelands’ liberal-globalist society any longer.
Russia is finally embracing its role as a refuge for them from the aforesaid evils by showing that it sympathizes with their plight, to which end it’s now facilitating their emigration by revolutionizing its byzantine immigration system with long-overdue radical reforms for this promising class of immigrants. Even those like-minded folks who don’t take up this opportunity will still appreciate that they’re always welcome there, which will go a long way towards winning more hearts and minds in the West.
In case anyone is wondering about my word choice, I deliberately chose "emigration" to refer to making it easier for these dissidents to leave, since some want to flee but don't have a legally realistic way to do so when it comes to Russia at least.
They don't speak Russian and it's not convenient for them to enroll in a university for a few years, get a red diploma (graduate with honors), and thus be exempted from the quota system for their subsequent residency application.
Some also might not want to permanently live in Russia, but just stay there long enough to ride out the storm back home in the assumption (whether naive or not) that things might eventually improve so they can return one day instead of spend the rest of their lives abroad.
Some emigrants might become immigrants and perhaps even citizens eventually, but others just want a way out for however long they choose, even if it's only several months. Others might sincerely want to stay in Russia but find out after some time that it's simply not for them for whatever reason.
So this immigration reform makes it easier for them to "emigrate" -- leave their homelands -- even if they don't permanently settle ("immigrate") in Russia. In any case, it's truly revolutionary and I encourage anyone who's genuinely interested in doing this to explore this option.
Well, thank you Ms Butina and VV Putin for this. I have been a victim of those bureaucratic obstacles. Having finally received temporary residency, I am now able to apply for permanent residency. For US pensioners the big problem is to find a way to get those monthly payments because of US sanctions.
I have been living quite comfortably but frugally on my SS and two very small monthly pensions from two different state governments I briefly worked for. Keep in mind there is also no mail service to and from the USA and Russia. I have lived here now for 4.5 years and love it.
For people over 65 (I think) there is no language requirement. Additionally, learning any language in our later years is difficult. Russian is much harder than any of the Latin based languages. But, there are several great translation apps for you phone. And, many Russians do speak English, even poorly.
I've been fortunate to have travelled and lived in many countries. Russia in general is very welcoming of foreigners, even Americans IF they come here with open hearts and minds. In my opinion, there are not many countries that are as safe, calm, harmonious, united, and observing of "traditional family values" as Russia.
Russia tolerates all major religions, and there is freedom of speech! Hate language and criticizing the Special Military Operation can get one in trouble. Russia is in a war for its very survival. This ain't Vietnam!
Russia is a safe and open society. No FSB (KGB) agents following you around. No hidden cameras and microphones. This is not the Soviet Union and Communism. This is pretty much a capitalist country ala Russian version, and Russia is more democratic that the USA. There is very little one can't find here be it food, accessories, household goods, etc.
Re transportation. If someone comes with an automobile or wishes to purchase one here, an international drivers license is required. I personally chose not to have a car and rely on a fantastic, public transportation system, be it by train, bus, or plane. Everything runs on time here and is relatively inexpensive.
Finally, one must chose very carefully where to live. Russia is an immense country with many large, modern cities, smaller towns and even villages. There are many different climate zones from Siberia all the way to southern Russia and Crimea.
It's a great place to be a retired person. Even with a limited, fixed income, it is possible to travel around Russia to experience the rich history, culture, food, and traditions.
One last note. Depending on the "level of one's opposition" to governments in the USA and across the EU, returning home might not be wise. Speaking out against the official narrative is not tolerated. It should be obvious that journalists, bloggers, and other high profile activists not only have been blocked and deleted from social media platforms, but are being detained, questioned, and even arrested.