Events in Ukraine provide food for thought about compatriots

By Vestnik Kavkaza

The difficult situation of the Russian-speaking population in Ukraine, the shrinking space of those who study and speak Russian in other countries, and migration processes require the consolidation of the 'Russian world'. This is the conclusion reached by the participants in the round-table discussion 'Improvement of mechanisms of interaction of Russia with the Russian world abroad'.

According to the head of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs, Konstantin Kosachev, in recent years, the efforts of the Russian Federation have largely concentrated on three main areas.
Firstly, the promotion of organizational consolidation, unification of our compatriots abroad, which for a long time were in quite a fragmented state. Now this period of disunity is apparently overcome.

Secondly, provision of political, social and humanitarian rights of compatriots abroad.

Thirdly, to assist them so that they feel themselves to be part of the 'Russian world'. So they are able to read books, to teach children, to communicate with each other in a language that is dear to them, feel their fate, the fate of the people, the fate of the Russian world, not how modern politics are trying to impose, and feel themselves in harmony with the environment.

According to Kosachev, there comes a time when it is appropriate to return to the objectives that are stated by the Russian Federation in the context of work with compatriots and interaction with the 'Russian world'. "Recent developments in Ukraine are providing food for thought, when the Russian-speaking population of the country has suffered terrible damage, which was prepared systematically during the preceding "Maidan" years, and then, in what state the Russian-speaking population of Ukraine is now. It is important to understand how the mechanisms worked or did not work for consolidating and protecting the rights of our fellow citizens in the times of trial and turmoil that Ukraine has experienced.