An important event in the life of the country was the approval on
November 9, 2022 by the President of Russia of a strategic document
“Fundamentals of State Policy for the Preservation and Strengthening of
Traditional Russian Spiritual and Moral Values”, which also encompasses
the proposals of the civil society, consolidated by its institutions. This
work in 2023 was followed by the Executive Order “On Amendments
to the Fundamentals of State Cultural Policy” (aimed at supporting,
preserving and developing all branches of culture, the formation of
personality based on the value system inherent in Russian society) and
the approval on May 17 by the President of Russia of the “Strategies
for Comprehensive Safety of Children in the Russian Federation until
2030”,67 which classifies shift in ideas of traditional family values as the
main threats to the safety of children in Russia.
2.2Family and childhood protection
Issues of demographic development and preserving the people of Russia over the past years have been a priority task of the state. To date, to improve the demographic situation in Russia, a comprehensive system of measures to support and protect families with children has been created. Decisions made at the state level in 2023 contributed to its further improvement and strengthening.
Important supplements made to the “Fundamentals of the State Cultural Policy of the Russian Federation”82 in January 202383 confirmed the sustainability and systematic implementation of demographic policy aimed at creating a positive attitude in society towards families with children and parents with many children, and the protection of motherhood and childhood by the state. In particular, it covers the creation of conditions for the upbringing and development of children based on traditional Russian spiritual and moral values and protecting their interests, as well as protecting traditional family values and the institution of marriage as a union of a man and a woman.
In May 2023, the President of Russia approved the “Strategy for the Comprehensive Safety of Children in the Russian Federation until 2030”,84 which reinforced the recognition of childhood as an important stage of human development, based on the need to create safe conditions for the realization of the rights and legitimate interests of the child.
In 2023, the systematic implementation of measures to support families with children continued. For example, a single benefit has been introduced, which is paid to pregnant women and families raising children under 17 years old.85
In a speech at a meeting of the Council for Strategic Development and National Projects on August 22, 2023, the President of Russia pointed out that the fundamental guideline for all steps, without exception, that were being taken in the economy and social sphere so far and in all other areas was the preservation of the people, the protection of motherhood and childhood, and increase in life expectancy
Unified benefit for the birth and upbringing of a child
The measure is valid from the mother’s pregnancy until the child turns 17 years old. In 2023 the federal and regional budgets allocate 1.7 trillion rubles for appropriate payments.
In 2024, the expenses of the “children’s budget” will amount to 3 trillion rubles
Source: Government of Russia // Mikhail Mishustin held a strategic session on population preservation and supporting families with childrenAlso in 2023, a new approach to determining need was set. In particular, the list of persons who will be taken into account when calculating a family’s need has been clarified, and the list of persons who will be excluded from the family when calculating average per capital income has been expanded. Moreover, the new conditions assume that when calculating the need, only amounts received by the family in monetary form will be taken into account and in the case of income from business activities, expenses will be deducted.86
To provide additional support for families with children having income below the subsistence level, the maternity capital program has been expanded. If the average per capital family income is below two subsistence levels, the family may apply for a payment from maternity capital for a child under three years old, regardless of the child’s birth order (previously only for the second child). Provided that, if a family has several children under three years old, then such a payment can be issued for each of them.87
Russians on social support for families with children in 2023
51% consider the distribution of state support to be fair among all families with children, regardless of their income level
42% of citizens surveyed are tend to the opinion that state support should be provided only to low-income families
The older Russians are the fairer they tend to consider social support for families with children based on real need, that is, 53% in the group over 60 years old.
More than half of Russians raising minor children believe that assistance to all families with children without exception is fair, that is, 60%.
Another important aspect under the control of the state today is the indexation of all support measures by the level of inflation. On January 30, 2023, Chairman of the Russian Government Mikhail Mishustin signed a corresponding resolution.88 Measures aimed at supporting families with children were also indexed.
On February 1, 2023, by 11.9% 46 different payments, benefits and compensations were increased, embracing more than 16 million citizens.
According to the new rules, maternity capital is now also indexed no lower than the inflation rate. For the first child it increased from 524.5 thousand to 586.9 thousand rubles, and for the second and subsequent children (if it not received for the first-born) from 693.1 thousand to 775.6 thousand rubles.
The lump sum benefit for the birth of a child has increased; in 2023 it amounts to 23,011 rubles
An important innovation for 2023 was the project launched on September 1 for social and medical assistance to women raising children on their own.89 According to the decree of the Government of the Russian Federation, the project will be implemented in three regions: Novgorod, Penza and Tambov.90
Russians on approaches to the distribution of social benefits to families with children
49% consider it fair to give parents the opportunity to spend social benefits on children at their own discretion
42% consider it fair to transfer money to the account from which goods and services from reliable suppliers are paid (when the state ensures their quality)
The approach where parents manage payments for children at their own discretion is more often supported by women (53% vs. 43% among men).
Source: VCIOM // To Everyone And Without Control: On Social Support For Families With Children
It is important to note that the social guarantees available to Russians are gradually extending to residents of the new regions. As part of the process of integration of the new regions of the Russian Federation, a federal law was enshrined in February 2023. This law defines the features of the legal regulation of relations in the field of social protection and social services for citizens of the Russian Federation, foreign citizens and stateless persons permanently residing in the territories of the Donetsk People’s Republic, Lugansk People’s Republic, Zaporozhye region, and Kherson region.91 The implementation of the law enables residents of the new regions of the Russian Federation to receive social support from the state on an equal basis with citizens living in other regions of Russia.
For many years, the Civic Chamber has traditionally paid great attention to issues of demographic policy, and together with experts from scientific and public organizations, and representatives of parent communities, it has been actively working to develop proposals for measures to support families with children, who subsequently acquire legal status.
The Сivic Chamber’s equally important tasks are to build respect for a large family as a traditional value of the Russian people, bolster interaction in the field of preserving family values within the regions, prevent abortions and develop mechanisms for increasing the birth rate in the country.
For the purpose of a detailed discussion of demographic and family policy, the Civic Chamber in May 2023 held the Moscow International Demographic Forum ″Demography and Family Policy 2030: Reliance on Traditional Values″. Among the problems that need to be solved in this area at the present time, the forum participants highlighted the fall in the birth rate and the increase in premature mortality, public disapproval of large families and the propaganda of ideologies denying traditional and family values. To resolve these issues in Russian society, it is necessary to form an attitude towards a large family as a norm and a key value in Russia. Experts from the Civic Chamber noted that in order to improve demographics, it was necessary to clearly understand the entire set of factors influencing the decision and desire of citizens to have many children.92
In February 2023, in order to improve demographic and family policy and solve existing problems in this area, the Civic Chamber developed and submitted to the Russian Government proposals for additional measures to support families with children, designed to help increase the birth rate.93
Proposals from the Civic Chamber on additional measures to increase the birth rate
- To extend until 2030 measures of state support for families with children in terms of repaying mortgage housing credit (loans) and expand the areas of using funds to improve housing conditions in accordance with the areas of maternal family capital; to ensure that the subsidy is indexed annually to at least the level of inflation;
- To recommend that the regional authorities of the Russian Federation, in which the total fertility rate is below 1.7 children per woman, introduce a regional subsidy in the amount of at least 550 thousand rubles in 2023; to ensure co- financing of regional budget expenses for the implementation of this measure from the federal budget;
- To expand the areas of use of maternity capital funds for large families;
- To implement a preferential education program for children from large families in educational institutions of secondary vocational or higher education;
- To exempt large families from tax on their only property as a land, apartment, house, cottage, and a car;
- To increase the standard tax deduction for children when calculating personal income tax to 0.5 subsistence minimum for the first child; one subsistence minimum for the second and two subsistence minimums for each child in large families;
- To consider the possibility of paying a single benefit for each child in a large family up to the age of 17 in the amount of 0.5 times the subsistence minimum without assessing need and applying the zero-income rule;
- To exempt from parental fees for supervision and care of third and subsequent children in preschool state and municipal educational organizations;
- To recognize large families as a priority category for providing social support through social contract technology;
- To lower the retirement age for fathers with many children;
- To reduce the number of abortions, increase the monthly allowance in the amount of the subsistence level for first-time pregnant women and women pregnant with their third and subsequent children who are registered in the early stages of pregnancy, without taking into account needs; and
- To amend federal legislation to provide an additional deferment from conscription for men who have three or more dependent children under the age of 16.
Issues of family policy, the popularization of large families in society and the preservation of traditional spiritual and moral values in 2023 were actively discussed within the active citizens’ forum “Community” of the Civic Chamber. Experts scrutinized models of support for large families aimed at ensuring rapid demographic development and the return of the tradition of large families to Russia, analyzed measures to strengthen public health and increase life expectancy of the population, namely:
- In Yakutsk the event came to the conclusion that the value of parenthood and family should be taught to the younger generation starting from nursery;94
- In Voronezh it was noted that support for large families and the age category in which these families mainly appear were women aged 30+. This example should be a priority and can give the maximum effect.
More than 40% of second children and 75% third children are born to women in the age group 30+
The experience of a number of regions of the Russian Federation shows that a systematic policy in this area contributes the population growth and can be both replicated in other regions and successfully scaled up at the federal level. Among such regions, experts from the Civic Chamber point out the Sakhalin region and the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia).
In solving the key tasks that the state and civil society are facing today in the field of demographic and family policy, the most important role is played by the work to prevent abortion.
Following the results of the annual forum “Strong Ideas for New Times,” aimed at identifying and supporting the implementation of socially significant initiatives of Russian citizens, held in July 2023, the project of the Deputy Chairman of the Commission of the Civic Chamber on Demography and Protection of Family, Children, and Traditional Family Values, Nataliya Moskvitina, “Hello, Mom” commenced. The Civic Chamber became the starting point for the implementation of this project focused on working with pregnant women and preventing abortion.95
“Hello, Mom” project96
Project organizer – “Women for Life” foundation.
Heads of 6 regions supported the implementation of the project in their regions.
The first result —by 42% declined the number of abortions in the Republic of Mordovia in course of the project.97
One of the results of the work carried out by the Civic Chamber in the field of demography in 2023 was the preparation and publication of a special report of the Civic Chamber “Demography 2030. How to Ensure Sustainable Population Growth in the Russian Federation.”
A special report gives a scenario for sustainable demographic development for the period up to 2030 and 2050, which is based on successful experience in increasing the birth rate in the Sakhalin region.
The authors of the report note that achieving sustainable population growth in Russia to secure national development targets by 2030, as well as in the long term, is only possible under a scenario based on an increase in the birth rate to and above the replacement level with the total fertility rate (TFR) indicator 2.1 children per woman and achieving life expectancy (LE) of 78 years by 2030.
Fertility in Russia
After 2016 the Russian Federation has been experiencing a decline in the birth rate, both in absolute numbers and in terms of the number of births per woman of childbearing age (total fertility rate – TFR).
By 2022 the number of births decreased up to 1.3 million children, and TFR up to 1.42 child per woman.
The birth rate continues to decline in 2023 both in Russia as a whole and in most regions.
Dynamics of natural population growth in Russia while maintaining current fertility rates (1.4 < TFR ≤ 2.1 children per woman) and mortality (life expectancy 72.76 years), taking into account migration (300 thousand people per year)98
Achieving this goal will make it possible to smooth out the ridges and demographic waves of the Russian population structure, thereby facilitating the management of social and financial instruments aimed at sustainable reproduction of the population, and ensuring both the demographic and national security of the country.
2.3Protection and preservation of national treasure and historical and cultural heritage
Thanks to a set of measures adopted in recent years, historical memory as an integrated phenomenon of public consciousness has acquired real legal shapes within the legal system of our country, and the protection of historical truth has become one of the primary tasks of state policy enshrined in the Basic Law of the country.
To date, the state and public institutions continue to work together to implement socially significant projects aimed at studying and preserving information about the main historical events of our country.
Projects such as the “Day of United Action” to commemorate the genocide of the Soviet people by the Nazis and their accomplices during the Great Patriotic War, “Without a Statute of Limitations”, “Immortal Regiment”, the competition “Our Victory” and many others have gained all-Russian scale and popularity.
National competition “Our Victory”
Organized by the Commission of the Civic Chamber on Demography and Protection of Family, Children, and Traditional Family Values.
The purpose of the competition is to collect and evaluate ideas and initiatives of Russian residents to celebrate Victory Day, popularize and scale up the best projects.
As a result, an expert jury selected and presented 10 original ideas within the Civic Chamber. The authors became a part of members of the “Raising Citizens” expert club.
More than600ideas residents of 64 Russian regions, as well as Belarus, presented as new formats for celebrating Victory Day in 2023.
The authors of the three best ideas took part in the Victory Parade in Moscow.
The competition will become annual. The organizers will continue to search for new ideas and meanings for the Victory Day celebrations.99
Results of the “Day of United Action” in 2023:
-
Took part 10.7 million people;
-
Involved in organizing and holding commemorative events 148 regional coordinators from 84 Russian regions including from the new regions;
Potential audience of the media campaign is 58.6 million people;
More than 3.7 thousand were published in Russian media.
Publications in social networks – 60 thousand posts;
The events were prepared by 137 coordinators from 75 regions of Russia;
15 foreign countries joined the media coverage.
The Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation launched a hotline for methodological support of the project and a Coordination Council for the “Day of United Action”, which aired nine hours of live broadcast.100
On October 16, 2023, the Civic Chamber held the All-Russian Forum “Without a Statute of Limitations: Lessons of the Past for the Name of the Future”. During the event, specialists in the educational system were presented with an electronic set of educational materials, including interactive methods for extracurricular and additional classes (based on facts of genocide of the population of the USSR by the Nazi invaders and their accomplices), and materials from trials to recognize the facts of genocide that took place in 12 regions of Russia.101 The forum was attended by 200 specialists representing regional branches of the RMCY “Movement of the First,” the educational system and the expert community.102
Educational project “Without a statute of limitations”
Festival of research projects “Without a statute of limitations” 2023103
More than 3 ths. representatives of project teams from schools and colleges
from 72 regions of Russia took part in the all-Russian competition of research projects “Without a statute of limitations”.
The competition theme of the project is manifestations of genocide against the Soviet people during the Great Patriotic War.
In 2023, project groups from the new regions (Lugansk and Donetsk People’s Republics, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions) of Russia took part in the competition for the first time.
All-Russian essay competition “Without a statute of limitations”104
1,900,446 essays written over 4 years of the project.
705,128 students from 89 regions of Russia took part in the competition in 2023.
In 2023, 375 works of the finalists were awarded diplomas, and the teacher-mentors who prepared the finalists were awarded appreciation letters.
All-Russian Festival of Museum Exhibitions of Educational Organizations “Without a statute of limitations” 2023105
In 2023, the festival attracted 526 museum exhibitions from 62 regions of Russia
The winners are all the participants: the work of each educational organization has become a contribution to the preservation of the historical memory of the destinies and tragedies of the civilian population during the Great Patriotic War.
An active work on the implementation of projects aimed at preserving historical memory and patriotic education of children and youth is carried out by the Youth All-Russian public organization “Russian Student Detachments” (RSD). The program for developing the activities of student teams is being successfully implemented in the new regions of Russia. In 2023, regional branches were opened in the Zaporozhye region, Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics.106 In the Kherson region, the Regional main office of student teams will appear in 2024.107
All-Russian patriotic actions of Russian student groups “Let us bow to those great years”108 and “Snow landing of RSDs”109
More than 100 ths. schoolchildren and students in 2023 participated in events and activities held as part of the patriotic action “Let us bow to those great years”, dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Stalingrad.
More than 7,000 students from 72 regions of Russia volunteered in 900 settlements of Russia as part of the “Snow Landing of RSDs” campaign in 2023. Member of the movement improved monuments, helped veterans of the Great Patriotic War and families of the SMO participants with houseworks.
The implementation of the above measures is of particular importance on the eve of the anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945.
No one is forgotten – Russians about Victory Day in 2023
65% consider Victory Day the most important holiday.
May 9 tops the ranking of holidays for the last five years starting from 2018, ousting the New Year, which used to be at the top since 2006. The importance of Victory Day increases with age and reaches 70% in the group of Russians over 60 years old.
89% have family members who fought in the Great Patriotic War.
39% are well aware of the participation of their relatives in the Great Patriotic War, and in the older age group, 50%.
On September 5, 2023, a videoconference of the Russian Pobeda (Victory) Organizing Committee took place to prepare and conduct events to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945. The meeting was chaired by the President of Russia. During the meeting Vladimir Putin supported the idea of creating a National Center for Historical Memory, and on November 2, 2023 he signed a corresponding Executive Order.110
Commenting on the decision of the President, the Director of the Victory Museum, Vice President of the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation, Alexander Shkolnik, said that by the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory, the National Center of Historical Memory would be a powerful institution that would not only preserve historical memory and effectively repel the aggression of opponents of our country and its people, but would also strengthen Russia’s international standing.111
Russians on preserving the historical memory of the events of the Great Patriotic War
90% heard about crimes of Nazis and their accomplices against civilians during the Great Patriotic War
89% talk about the importance of preserving the memory of these tragic events
Source: VCIOM // To be remembered!2.4Ethnoconfessional diversity of the country and the unity of the multiethnic people of Russia
The ethnocultural, national and religious structure of the Russian Federation is unique. The multicentury civilizational formation of our country took place amid a complex historical process, characterized by a high level of social and demographic dynamics. The most important basic characteristic of this civilizational formation was the ability to integrate, taking into account the ethnoconfessional specifics of the various peoples and population groups that throughout its history our country has integrated.
Interethnic and interreligious relations are the most important component of national policy, which, in turn, is in the sphere of intersectoral and interdepartmental responsibility of key government institutions implementing state policy in almost all spheres of society.
The connecting departmental link in the work to strengthen interethnic unity on the part of the state is the Federal Agency for Ethnic Affairs (FAEA). In March 2023, the FAEA, with the support of relevant ministries, was instructed by the Government of the Russian Federation to prepare additional measures aimed at strengthening interethnic unity in the new regions of Russia. As part of the instructions, the FAEA is also developing a set of measures, which encompass national state policy.112
During 2023, the FAEA worked together with civil society institutions to organize competitions, forums, exhibitions, round tables, seminars and other events aimed at achieving interethnic and interreligious unity, cultivating a sense of patriotism and civic identity.113
100 million rubles were distributed in 2023 by the FAEA from the federal budget to support national-cultural autonomies and other nonprofit organizations operating in the implementation of the state national policy of Russia.114
The Civic Chamber notes that the result of systemic state support for the ethnocultural sector in recent years resulted in its sustainable development and consistent expansion. To date, subjects of the ethnocultural sector are engaged not only in traditional issues of cultural festivals, ethnotourism, preservation and teaching of national languages, but also in volunteering and charity. A lot of work on the implementation of various special projects and programs was carried out by organizations of the ethnocultural sector within the Year of the Teachers and Mentors.
The ethnocultural sector of the country today is:
More than 10 thousand NPOs 1.5 thousand national cultural autonomies 37.5 thousand religious organizations.115
As the sector is most often represented by public organizations, the financing of projects is always a distressing issue so far. To date, such initiatives are supported and funded by means of grants and subsidies sourced from the All-Russian Public Organization “Assembly of the Peoples of Russia”, established by several ethnocultural associations and the Federal Agency for Ethnic Affairs.116
A significant support for NPOs whose activities are aimed at ensuring interethnic and interreligious unity is provided by the Presidential Grants Foundation and the Presidential Foundation for Cultural Initiatives.117
The Civic Chamber is also actively engaged in this direction. Apart from the implementation of various thematic festivals, exhibitions, and competitions, the Civic Chamber traditionally hosts expert discussions on the development of interethnic and interreligious relations, the preservation of traditional spiritual and moral values, and the implementation of national policies.
Among such events, the IV All-Russian Conference “Sustainable Development of the Ethnocultural Sector” stands out. This event included an award ceremony for the winners of the V All-Russian competition of the best practices in the field of national relations, and the IV All-Russian Forum of National Unity, whose thematic discussion platforms in 2023 attracted more than 500 visitors and experts from 46 regions of Russia, including from the new regions, as well as from Belarus and Kyrgyzstan.118
Project of the Guild of Interethnic Journalism “Sound of Eurasia – New Horizons”
The support of the Civic Chamber and the Presidential Foundation for Cultural Initiatives in 2023 enabled the implementation of the project of the Guild of Interethnic Journalism “Sound of Eurasia - New Horizons”119 for the second time. Thus the project united again ethnic artists and acted as a platform for creative communication and promotion of new musical leaders.120
A significant event in the life of the ethnocultural sector every year is the presentation of the All-Russian Award “Pride of the Nation” for personal contribution to ethnocultural development and strengthening the unity of the peoples of Russia. In 2023, one of its laureates was an Adyghe poet, prose writer and translator, Hero of Labor of the Russian Federation and the oldest member of the Civic Chamber, Iskhak Mashbash.121
The largest state and sociopolitical event of the decade shaping the population’s self-image, and being the main source of knowledge about Russian society, its peoples, nationalities, households, and social groups was the 2020–2021 All-Russian Census of Population.
The Civic Chamber assisted the census in 2021, and in February 2023 held public hearings on the topic “All-Russian Census of Population. Results and Significance for Socio-Economic and Social Development”.122 The participants of public hearings noted that the census results must be used to strengthen the unity of the multiethnic people of the Russian Federation, ensure interethnic harmony, and the ethnocultural development of the peoples of Russia. To do so, it was recommended to refer to the results of the census when updating the “Strategy of the State Ethnic Policy of the Russian Federation”, the “Concept of State Migration Policy”, strategic planning documents in the field of national security, and when developing the “Concept of State Language Policy”.
In May 2023, at a meeting of the Council on Interethnic Relations the President of Russia said that the “State National Policy Strategy”, which has been in force for more than ten years, required harmonization in modern conditions, taking into account, among other things, the new regions of Russia, which, alike other regions of the country, are multiethnic.123
According to the results of the All-Russian Census of Population conducted in 2021, representatives of 194 ethnicities lived in Russia.
The census showed an increase in the number of people who did not answer the question about ethnicity, in 2010 such responses amounted to 5,7 million, in 2021 this number amounted to 16.6 million124
People living in Russia speak more than 370 languages, 133 of which are languages of the Russian Federation125
Corresponding instructions to the Government of the Russian Federation and responsible departments were given in July 2023. An important innovation in these instructions included the need to prepare and publish, starting in 2024, an annual state report on the implementation of the state national policy of Russia.126
Commenting on this instruction, a participant in the meeting of the Council on Interethnic Relations with the President of Russia, Chairman of the Commission on Interethnic and Interreligious Relations and Migration of the Civic Chamber, Vladimir Zorin, pointed out the need to revise the indicators characterizing the effectiveness of government bodies in implementing the state national policy.
In his opinion, nowadays these indicators were aimed mostly at holding mass events focusing on their frequency and the number of participants involved; for an objective assessment of the expected results, it is necessary to introduce qualitative characteristics. It is equally important to stimulate the development of infrastructure for the implementation of state national policy in the new regions. Federal organizations is being faced today with the primary task of creating branches. And when these branches are ready, this infrastructure should be deployed, namely national cultural centers, houses of folk art, ethnocultural objects, etc.
The topic of the effectiveness of state national policy in the current geopolitical realities received detailed consideration within the regional forums of the Civic Chamber “Community”. Giving an assessment of the implemented model of state ethnic policy, participants of the “Multiethnic People of Russia. Traditions, Will, Unity” forum, held on August 1 in Yakutsk,127 emphasized that it turned out to be effective amid new tests of time and challenges.
Noting the relevance and strategic importance for the present and future of our country of preserving the unity of the multiethnic people of Russia today, the institute of civic chambers provides expert and representative support for the development of the ethnocultural sector in the country. In the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation these tasks are supervised by a relevant Commission, which includes representatives of traditional Russian religions, public interethnic and ethnocultural organizations. Similar commissions also work as part of the regional civic chambers.
Interethnic relations in 2023
39% of Russians see more tensions in relations between representatives of different ethnicities in recent years. Over ten years, this figure has decreased significantly by 18%; in 2013, 57% thought so
Another 38% think that in the sphere of interethnic relations everything is stable, no changes are felt either for the better or for the worse.
15% of Russians see that interethnic relations have become less tense to date. Compared to the indicators of similar surveys ten years ago, this figure has more than doubled (2013 – 7%).
Source: VCIOM // Immigrants in Russia: pros and cons2.5Migration policy: challenges and prospects
The current situation in economics, demography, interconfessional, and interethnic relations in our country espouses the constant attention of public and state institutions to migration policy, taking into account a complex of dynamically changing socioeconomic and political factors in its improvement.
Migration processes have a positive potential that affects directly the development of the country. And this is an opportunity to compensate for population decline, as well as attract additional qualified labor to the Russian market, ensuring the growth of the country’s economy. On the other hand, uncontrolled and unregulated migration, which is not associated with the cultural adaptation of foreign citizens, leads to an increase in social risks and creates a threat to the national security of Russia.
According to statistics from the Unified Interdepartmental Information and Statistical System, 7.1 million foreigners entered Russia in the first and second quarters of 2023, 2.5 million of whom are labor migrants.128
In 2023, significant changes were made to the “Concept of State Migration Policy for 2019– 2025”.129
The updated Concept for the first time emphasizes the need to take measures against any form of discrimination foreigners are facing based on race, social, national or religious affiliation, and states the need to ensure equal access to state or municipal services. An important innovation of the “Concept of State Migration Policy” was the need for cultural and social adaptation of migrants noted in the strategic document.
Commenting on these changes, members of the Civic Chamber said that novelties demonstrated the state’s readiness and ability to quickly respond to the constantly changing socioeconomic situation in the country and the international political situation.130
Amendments to migration legislation adopted in 2023131 were also aimed at further improving migration policy. These amendments enable foreign citizens to register through the Unified Portal of State and Municipal Services.132
The development of a system of sustainable partnership between authorities and civil society institutions in solving problems of preventing and eliminating conflicts caused by migration processes, adaptation and integration of migrants is one of the proven effective mechanisms for implementing state migration policy.
In 2023, the Civic Chamber worked actively in this area and encompassed the scientific and expert communities, representatives of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Council under the President of the Russian Federation for Interethnic Relations, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Russia, and the Council under the President of the Russian Federation for the Development of Civil Society and Human Rights in discussions on various aspects of migration processes in our country.
In 2023, the subject for discussion on implementation of migration policy in Russia was composed of the following: the educational training of migrants, including confirmation by foreigners of the level of Russian language proficiency,133 modern approaches to sociocultural adaptation to introduce migrants to Russian traditions long before entering the country,134 and ensuring security and preventing conflicts due to increase of migration flows.
The need to lift barriers for highly qualified foreign specialists in 2023 was voiced over by the President of Russia.135
The Civic Chamber keeps focused on migration issues. As part of the regional forum “Community,” members of the Civic Chamber and experts held a section meeting on the topic “Improving Migration Processes and Mechanisms for Attracting to Russia Highly Qualified Specialists and Foreigners Who Share Traditional Values”.136 The participants concluded that our country needed to shift to regulated migration, wherewith, based on market demands, the flow of specialists from other countries would be predicted and ensured.
Project “Moscow – Territory of Mutual Understanding”
As part of this project, all heads of municipalities, city and district settlements will enjoy councils on interethnic issues, interconfessional relations and migration. Along with authorities, they include leaders of national diasporas, the most active residents and employers.137
In connection with this, the formation of the necessary infrastructure for migrants who want to move to Russia remains an urgent issue that requires a balanced approach. Today, it is not possible to start processing documents remotely; the number of quotas for foreigners to obtain a residence permit is severely limited, since in practice all quotas are given to citizens from the countries of the former USSR. A promising solution, according to experts from the Civic Chamber, could be a single online platform where everyone can assess their chances of moving to Russia in terms of demand as specialists and proceed with all the necessary procedures online.138
The Civic Chamber continued to discuss this matter within another conference.139 And this conference brought together experts and migrant workers to identify a number of difficulties they were faced with. First of all, they are associated with the lack of standard requirements for the set of documents at migration centers; certain obstacles also arise due to the short validity of police clearance certificates.
Immigrants in Russia: pros and cons
47% of Russians informants are sure that labor migration is a positive development for the country. The figure of 2023 are several times higher than previous one from VCIOM (2006 – 21%, 2008 – 14%, 2013 – 14%).
Urbanization does not significantly influence perceptions of labor migration.
Both in large cities and in rural areas, people think about the same on this issue – they support labor migration 50% of capital residents and 47% of village dwellers
Today, 40% of surveyed keep to the opposite opinion, this is almost 2 times less than 10 years ago (2013 – 74%).
Source: VCIOM // Immigrants in Russia: pros and cons
Considering various aspects of the implementation of migration policy in Russia, as well as the development and improvement of migration processes, members of the Civic Chamber point out that the migration process must be clearly articulated by the state. Potential migrants should have certain preferences, on the one hand, and certain restrictions, on the other.140 And to resolve these issues, a flexible and balanced approach is needed – one that drags no risks, but works for the development of the country and the economy.
In matters of adaptation and integration of migrants, the country must set standards based on the needs of the country’s citizens, especially the local population. What migrants does the country need? How costly is their integration? When will they be seen as sufficiently adapted and integrated? For sure, answers to these questions will allow nonprofit organizations involved in tacking these issues to organize their work more effectively and systematically.141
And the Civic Chamber suggests that all these aspects should be taken into account as part of the further improvement of migration legislation, which will also ensure the necessary conditions for attracting highly qualified specialists from abroad.