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Russian government floats idea for mandatory 'loyalty agreement' for foreigners in Russia
By Timothy Nerozzi
Published November 29, 2023
The Russian government is floating the idea of demanding a "loyalty agreement" from foreigners.
A proposed law would restrict non-Russian residents from openly opposing the government, criticizing Russia's communist history or subverting traditional values.
Foreign nationals would be required to sign an agreement prohibiting "hindering the activities of public authorities of the Russian Federation [or] discrediting in any form the foreign and domestic state policy of the Russian Federation, public authorities and their officials," according to translations from The Moscow Times.
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Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev speaks during the plenary session of State Duma on Oct. 19, 2022 in Moscow. The council of the lower chamber of Russia's Parliament decided to stop online broadcasting of the plenary sessions from now on. (Getty Images)
Foreigners would also be restricted from "denying traditional family values and distorting the contribution of the Soviet people to the victory over fascism," according to the report.
State news outlet TASS reported on the draft legislation on Wednesday, attributing the proposition to the Interior Ministry, headed by Vladimir Kolokoltsev.
Head of the Interior Ministry's migration department, Valentina Kazakova, told TASS that the proposal would "soon be sent to the State Duma," the lower house of Russia's parliament.
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Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev attends the Extended Boards of Interior Ministry in Moscow. (Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images)
The Kremlin has not commented on the proposed law.
The loyalty pledge would be only the latest crackdown on behavior and speech believed to be anti-Russian since the invasion of Ukraine began in 2022.
Saturday morning, Russia launched its most intense drone attack on the Ukraine capital of Kyiv since the beginning of its full-scale invasion, leaving five people injured, military officials said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting with members of the government via a video conference at the Kremlin in Moscow. (ALEXANDER KAZAKOV/SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images)
Seventy-five Iranian-made drones were launched into the north-central region, of which at least 70 were destroyed by air defense, Ukraine’s air force said.
At least five civilians were wounded in the hours-long drone assault, including an 11-year-old child, according to Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko.
Fox News Digital's Michael Dorgan contributed to this report.
https://www.foxnews.com/world/russian-government-floats-idea-mandatory-loyalty-agreement-foreigners-russia