Russia needs influential diaspora abroad

March 20, the Committee for the Commonwealth of Independent States, Eurasian Integration and Relations with Compatriots held parliamentary hearings on the topic "On the contemporary policy of the Russian Federation with regard to compatriots living abroad".

The discussion was attended by deputies, representatives of federal executive bodies, representatives of associations of Russian compatriots abroad. Opening the hearing, Chairman of the Committee Leonid Kalashnikov remembered that since the collapse of the USSR outside of Russia, about 30 million compatriots live. The Russian deputy confirmed that the support of compatriots remains a priority foreign policy task of the Russian Federation. The very concept of "compatriot" requires serious concretization. The possibility of unreasonable provision of preferences to other categories of foreigners should be excluded, since otherwise it could threaten the security and ethno-cultural unity of Russia, he believes. In 2016, 150 thousand compatriots adopted Russian citizenship in a simplified manner. This is more than half of all citizenship of the Russian Federation. At the same time, it is necessary to simplify the acquisition of Russian citizenship. There is also a need to improve the procedure for considering applications for the admission of Russian citizenship to graduates of educational or scientific organizations and qualified specialists.

The idea is in the implementation phase of ​​involving experts from the World Coordinating Council of Compatriots to interact with Russian ministries and departments in order to take into account the Russian authorities' requests for foreign Diasporas.

In support of compatriots, the head of the LDPR faction Vladimir Zhirinovsky and the leader of the Communist Party Gennady Zyuganov spoke, urging "to build up the potentials" for further development. Chairman of the Committee of Ukraine saving Nikolai Azarov, calling the ongoing in Ukraine a great tragedy, and the blockade of the Donbass "suicidal decision" offered Russia to strengthen the protection of political emigrants. Member of the World Coordinating Council of Russian Compatriots Stanislav Epifantsev pointed to the need to form a serious and influential Russian diaspora abroad. It needs to be designed in accordance with new realities. But for the development of such a strategy, the iron will of the leadership of Russia is needed. The first deputy chairman of the Committee, Konstantin Zatulin, proposed to legislate the right of political asylum and political migration to Russia, including for residents of Ukraine.

The hearings also touched upon the issues of simplifying the visa regime for compatriots. They spoke about the problems of compatriots in the unrecognized states. The vice-speaker of Pridnestrovian parliament, Galina Antyufeeva appeared in the State Duma. She voiced a number of proposals of the Supreme Council of PMR aimed at enhancing the work with foreign compatriots. Based on the results of the discussion, the State Duma, the Government and individual executive authorities developed specific recommendations in the sphere of political, legal and humanitarian support for Russian compatriots.