MOSCOW, November 29. /TASS/. The Russian Interior Ministry has drafted a bill calling for the introduction of a consent form, or "loyalty agreement," to be signed by foreign visitors upon entering Russia indicating their intent to comply with prohibitions on discrediting Russian government policies or repudiating traditional family values, according to the text of the draft law reviewed by TASS.
"[The proposed] loyalty agreement form represents both a permit from Russian government authorities allowing a given foreign national to enter Russia, on the one hand, and, on the other, the foreigner’s consent to comply with existing prohibitions aimed at ensuring the protection of Russian national interests," the document reads.
Under the bill, a foreigner would be barred from hindering the work of Russian public authorities and discrediting the country’s domestic or foreign policies and public authorities or government officials. The bill would also bar immigrants from spreading information aimed at disparaging or encouraging the repudiation of constitutionally significant moral and other values, including the concept of the institution of marriage as a union between a man and a woman, and values associated with the family, motherhood, fatherhood and childhood. Upon entering Russia, foreigners would also be legally required to refrain from propagandizing non-traditional sexual relations or distorting the historical truth pertaining to the feat of the Soviet people in defending their Fatherland and their contribution to the victory over fascism, according to the text of the bill.
Additionally, the legislative initiative proposes prohibiting activities that encourage a neglectful attitude toward Russia’s environment or natural resources, as well as the country’s material and cultural values. The draft law also stipulates barring foreigners from showing disrespect toward Russia’s regional and ethno-cultural diversity or traditional Russian moral and spiritual values. Under the bill, foreigners could be barred from engaging in any activity deemed harmful to Russia.
Police Lieutenant General Valentina Kazakova, head of the Interior Ministry’s Main Directorate for Migration, announced earlier that the ministry had drafted relevant amendments to Russian immigration legislation. The bill is currently under discussion and will be submitted to the State Duma shortly, she said.