MOSCOW, November 29. /TASS/. The newly-launched "Welcome to Russia" project is aimed at supporting citizens from unfriendly countries who share Russian values and are in need of spiritual and moral asylum, Maria Butina, a member of the Russian State Duma (the lower house of parliament), said.

"The organization [Welcome to Russia] helps precisely those people who share Russian values and need spiritual and moral asylum," Butina said at a press conference dedicated to the launch of the "Welcome to Russia" initiative, which is aimed at supporting individuals from abroad who wish to migrate to the country.

People want to move to Russia to preserve traditional values and maintain their own history, Butina noted. "Russia offers an opportunity to raise your family in a place that is safe, secure, and grounded in tradition. And nobody will tell anyone what to do or how to live." "Today, Russia is the only state that can truly preserve all the richness of multi-ethnicity and multi-confessionalism, where everyone has their place," the MP added.

Butina recalled that foreign citizens now have more options for acquiring Russian citizenship and residence permits, thanks to several legal acts introduced by Russian President Vladimir Putin in August 2024. "There are increasing numbers of people from the West who want to come [to Russia]. They are seeking spiritual asylum. That is why we had to eliminate additional obstacles people might face, such as the quota or the requirement to study the Russian language <...> in order to obtain temporary resident status."

To apply for a simplified residence permit under President Decree No. 702, "you will need to undergo standard procedures: criminal record check, passport information, and details about your family and background. Then you can declare that you share Russia’s values and obtain temporary residency right away," Butina said.