The Kremlin is reviving Soviet-era tactics – ISW on the Russian list of countries that “impose other people’s values”

Russia’s inclusion of 47 countries in the list of those “imposing destructive attitudes that contradict Russian spiritual and moral values” emphasizes that the Kremlin is reviving Soviet-era tactics and thinking that define a clear ideological division in the world, the American Institute for the Study of of war (ISW).

“This move reflects a pattern in which Russian officials accuse the West and the United States of creating ideological divisions, ostensibly aimed at isolating Russia, while engaging in Cold War-style behavior encouraging global ideological camps and divisions,” the report said.

Analysts also noted that Russia has recently stepped up efforts to create Eurasian security forums and mechanisms, such as the Russian Federation’s proposed “Eurasian security architecture,” “aimed at excluding the West and intensifying divisions based on these supposedly ideological lines.”

“ISW also observes that the Kremlin has recently stepped up efforts to codify a state ideology based on vague Russian ‘traditional values’, bypassing the Russian constitution, which prohibits such attempts,” ISW said.

The Russian government has developed a list of countries in which, according to the Russian authorities, “destructive attitudes that contradict Russian spiritual and moral values ​​are being imposed on residents.” On September 20, the document was signed by the Prime Minister of Russia Mykhailo Mishustin. There are 47 countries on the list, almost all of them were previously included in Russia among the so-called unfriendly countries.

The list includes the USA and Canada, all countries of the European Union and many European countries that are not members of the EU, including Great Britain, Switzerland and Norway; Japan and South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, Micronesia and the Bahamas, as well as Ukraine. The list also mentions Taiwan as part of China, although the PRC is not listed at all. It also does not include Slovakia, Hungary, Turkey, Moldova and Georgia.

The list was prepared on the instructions of the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin. On August 19, he signed the decree “On providing humanitarian support to persons who share traditional Russian spiritual and moral values.” According to this decree, residents of countries where “destructive neoliberal ideological attitudes” are allegedly being imposed, who wish to move to Russia, will be able to obtain residence permits in a simplified manner. They will be exempted from the requirement to prove mastery of the Russian language and knowledge of the history and laws of Russia.

Also, such foreigners will be accepted beyond the quotas established by the government. Putin’s decree does not specify exactly how those willing will have to prove their commitment to traditional values ​​and disagreement with liberal politics.

The term “unfriendly states” appeared in Russia in 2021. At that time, the USA and the Czech Republic were included among them. After the start of the full-scale invasion of Russian troops into Ukraine in February 2022, the list began to rapidly expand. Now it has 49 states, including all G7 member countries and all 27 countries of the European Union. The only NATO country that is not on the “unfriendly” list is Turkey.