Alexei Vlasov
The state program of support for voluntary resettlement of compatriots living abroad to the Russian Federation could get a new impulse. At least, the Lower Chamber of the Russian parliament has prepared a series of documents, including an address to Vladimir Putin on issues connected with a strategically important project.
What does this mean? First of all, the program is not sufficiently financed. The resources allocated towatds resettlement of compatriots were not enough to provide them with comfortable conditions in their new places. According to the official statistics, in 2009 slightly more than 9 thousand people moved to Russia, whereas in 2011 it was about 32 thousand people.
In the first few months of 2012 there was growth in resettlement, but as for financing - the situation remains the same. Some radical changes in financing of the state program can only be expected if the new Russian parliament upgrades the program. The new head of the State Duma Committee on CIS issues, Mr. Slutsky, has such intentions. It is also positive that the departments involved in implementation of the program, first of all the Federal Migration Service, have a constructive approach towards the level of contacts with legislators.
But is financing the real point? An equally important issue is connected with the ideology of the state program and its information tools. Certain questions arise in the context of correlation of the resettlement program and establishment of the Eurasian Union. What is a reasonable balance between strategically-important projects by inviting compatriots from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, or Azerbaijan to resettle?
Some Russian experts think that, in the conditions of further development of the Eurasian project, there is no sense in a resettlement program. However, the majority of MPs have different points of view. The statements by Slutsky can be understood in various ways, He mainly speaks about the protection of compatriots’ interests abroad, rather than about their resettlement. He notes that first of all “it is necessary to take radical measures on improvement and intensification of activity on relations with compatriots, protection of their rights and providing them with humanitarian benefits.”
According to Slutsky, the document pays attention to the fact that in many countries the Russian language is experiencing serious “competition pressure”, in this which it is necessary to establish a systemic base for teaching it. “The Russian language should be a reliable constructive basis for the future Eurasian Economic Union,” the project states.
It is difficult to argue this position of the head of the Duma Committee on CIS issues.
The Kremlin’s attitude to the Russian-speaking population is a showcase of the depth of understanding of the problems we will face in the CIS countries in the future.
