Russia has a goal to keep traditional values a priority

The task of the National Centre "Russia" is to preserve and promote traditional values and historical memory

A few days ago, President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin stated at the United Russia Party Congress that the task of the national center "Of Russia" is to preserve and promote spiritual and traditional values and historical memory.

"Our clear, ambitious, step-by-step program for the country's development is based on strong and genuine support from the whole country. This solidarity, this belief in the country and in our victory is worth a lot. They are born out of a common understanding of Russia's fundamental, sovereign interests, a desire to ensure the security of the Motherland, to protect our sacred historical memory, spirituality, and traditions - those common values, the preservation and promotion of which the National Centre "Russia", where we are now, where the Congress is being held, is called upon to preserve and promote," said the Head of State^[1].

The Centre was established by a decree of the President of Russia to preserve the legacy of the exhibition of the same name, which was held from November 2023 to July 2024.

"The creation of the National Centre "Russia" is an important and logical step to preserve and pass on the accumulated experience. The meanings and values expressed in the exhibition will remain relevant for future generations," said Alsu Maganova, President of the Ugra Public Chamber.

According to Ms Maganova, the creation of representative offices in every region of Russia will guarantee equal opportunities for all citizens, which will contribute to strengthening the sense of community among the citizens and will allow everyone to feel connected to the cultural heritage of the country, regardless of where they live.

"I am sure that this will help us to preserve our cultural code, traditional values and the basic foundations of our common civic identity", she stressed.

Protecting traditional values or attracting labor?

Russia will assist those who oppose destructive neoliberal policies in their countries that run counter to traditional values. This is stated in a decree signed by the President^[2].

As noted in the document, such foreigners are allowed to apply for temporary residence in Russia "without regard to the quota approved by the Government of the Russian Federation and without presenting a document confirming their knowledge of the Russian language, knowledge of Russian history and knowledge of the basics of Russian legislation". The reason may be the rejection of their countries' policies "which impose destructive neoliberal ideological attitudes contrary to Russia's traditional spiritual and moral values".

The list of values has already been adopted, and the list of countries trying to impose "unhealthy attitudes" on their citizens is to be drawn up by the Russian government. Also, back in September, the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs was instructed to start issuing three-month visas on 'moral grounds'.

In February, at a forum of the Agency for Strategic Initiatives, Putin supported the idea of Irene Cecchini, an Italian student, who proposed facilitating resettlement in Russia on the basis of cultural, traditional and family values. The Head of State agreed with Cecchini that an individual approach is needed to determine what kind of people come to the country^[3].

The number of people coming to live in Russia is growing

In the first three months of the Russian President's decree, 25 Australian citizens have received visas for foreigners who are close to Russia's traditional spiritual and moral values, Russia's Consul General in Sydney Zarina Gabieva told TASS a few days ago.

She said people, including families with children, who do not accept Western values are applying for new visas to facilitate their relocation to Russia.

"I note that the Presidential Decree of 19 August 2024 'On the provision of humanitarian aid to persons who share Russia's traditional spiritual and moral values' is of great interest to Australians. This is also confirmed by the applications submitted by local citizens who are considering or have already decided to move to the Russian Federation," the Consul General said.

Ms Gabiyeva noted that Russian diplomats "personally talk to all applicants" and that their main argument is "disapproval and categorical rejection of the aggressive, unhealthy ideological attitudes imposed by local authorities, which destroy the ideas of real family and moral values".

"Since Decree 702 came into force, 25 people have already expressed their wish to move to our country. They have already been issued visas entitling them to apply to the Russian Ministry of the Interior for a temporary residence permit in a simplified procedure, i.e. without taking into account the quota approved by the Russian government and without confirming their knowledge of the Russian language, Russian history and the basics of Russian legislation," the Russian diplomat explained^[4].

The Consul General also stressed that the number of people who received visas "may seem insignificant, but for a country like Australia, which is far from Russia, it is a very good indicator".

"This is just the beginning of a long journey and I have no doubt that next year will be much more eventful in this respect. And we, for our part, will continue our outreach activities and provide every assistance to all those who want to "preserve themselves" as bearers of the traditional values that President Putin called the foundation of our life and our being," concluded the Head of the Consular Mission abroad.

The relevant provision was included in the party program

"United Russia supported the party's project "World of Opportunities" proposal to preserve and strengthen traditional values. A provision was added to the "Civic Solidarity and Youth Policy" strand of the Party's programme, setting out the task of contributing to the implementation of the objectives of state policy to preserve and strengthen Russia's traditional spiritual and moral values.

Roman Romanov, Project Coordinator of the World of Opportunities project, noted that the new provision of the All-People's Programme will strengthen the Party's role in implementing state policy to preserve and strengthen Russia's traditional spiritual and moral values.

"As part of the Party's project, in 2025, we will organize actions across Russia aimed at preserving, strengthening, and defending traditional values. For example, we have already launched campaigns for kindergartens called "Family History - History of the Country" and "History of Russia through the Great Saints". On 15 November, the international campaign "The People of Artek" was launched in Minsk, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of the International Children's Centre "Artek". At the beginning of the year, we plan to launch several campaigns dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory, the "It's Great to be Healthy" campaign and to continue the implementation of the "Russian Crimea and Sevastopol" campaign," he said.

At the end of November, the Russia-wide campaign "Russian History through the Great Saints" was launched in Mordovia on the initiative of the Head of the Republic, Artyom Zdunov, and Metropolitan Zinoviy of Saransk and Mordovia.

"This has become a real event for the Republic. Knowing how our great people, our saints, have lived will be a great help in avoiding mistakes and in guiding both adults and children on the path of truth. I am sure that in the New Year we will together preserve and pass on to our children the best traditions and values that unite us as a nation," said Zdunov.

The baton of teaching patriotism and traditional values has also been passed on in the Central Urals, following the example of Russian saints. Shortly, we plan to launch this campaign in the Kaluga region and St Petersburg.

Temples of Satan are not welcome in Russia

In early December, the Russian Prosecutor General's Office declared the US-registered organization "Temple of Satan" unwelcome. The Prosecutor General's Office said the organization discredits traditional spiritual and moral values.

The Temple of Satan was registered in 2012 and has 23 branches and more than 10 million followers worldwide. They promote occult practices and pseudo-scientific theories and support extremist movements. The statement adds that the organization's supporters hide behind ideas of "religious freedom" to justify violence against people, call for the overthrow of the constitutional order in Russia, and raise funds for the Ukrainian armed forces.