The Kremlin is relying more heavily on its "compatriots from abroad."
There's some confusion over who exactly falls into the category of Russian "compatriots" living abroad. It's a large group, and they're attracting a lot of attention from the Orthodox Church and the Kremlin. A U.S. think tank has some ideas about what might be going on.
Moscow seems to be more and more interested in courting these Russian compatriots abroad. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) believes that the Kremlin's aim is to create circumstances that allow them to justify additional acts of aggression and hybrid operations outside of Russia under the guise of protecting these compatriots. The ISW points to statements made by Yevgeny Primakov, the Director General of the Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States, Compatriots Living Abroad and International Humanitarian Cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo), as evidence.
In an interview with state news agency TASS, Primakov spoke about an "electronic map of compatriots" that Rossotrudnichestvo is developing. This map will make it easier for citizens living outside of Russia to receive state services, visit the country, work there, and even apply for Russian citizenship in the future. There's a pilot project for this program planned for several neighboring countries, and they may start issuing cards by the end of 2024.
Primakov acknowledges that some of these compatriots don't have Russian citizenship and are skeptical of Moscow's plans, but he still considers them compatriots in some way. He assumes that anywhere between 20 and 40 million people could qualify, even though it's unclear what he means by "compatriots abroad." For Russian President Vladimir Putin, these people are anyone with historical, cultural, or linguistic ties to Russia.
The ISW reports that Rossotrudnichestvo has been working on this "electronic map of compatriots" since at least 2021. Primakov also mentioned in June 2023 that they're planning to open "certification centers" in Russian cultural institutes around the world. These centers will let compatriots verify their identities as part of the application process.
Orthodox Church Pushes for Mass Repatriation
As the ISW points out, the Russian Orthodox Church, which is loyal to the Kremlin, recently recommended at the World Council of Russians on 27 and 28 March that the repatriation of "compatriots" to Russia should be given top priority. ISW believes that the "Electronic Map of Compatriots" program could be helpful in this regard.
ISW notes that Russian compatriots abroad are a vital part of the Kremlin's "Russky Mir" (Russian World) narrative. The Russian government has already eased the language and ancestry requirements for people who want to move back to Russia. It might be trying, according to the ISW, "to further expand its ambiguous definition of the term 'compatriot' to include as many people as possible."
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- The institute's analysis suggests that the Kremlin, led by Vladimir Putin, is using its "electronic map of compatriots" project to justify potential future attacks on Ukraine or other countries, under the pretense of protecting its Russian compatriots living abroad.
- The Russian Orthodox Church, supporting the Kremlin's agenda, urged for mass repatriation of compatriots at the World Council of Russians in March, with the "Electronic Map of Compatriots" program potentially aiding in this process, as part of Russia's broader "Russky Mir" (Russian World) narrative.
Source: www.ntv.de
