By John Q. Hosedrinker 
The Russian Interior Ministry has proposed a draft decree empowering police to “preserve and strengthen traditional Russian spiritual and moral values.” This proposed expansion of the ministry’s remit aims to align with public policy objectives, though the decree lacks specifics on how police would execute these functions. This proposal follows the Russian government’s July approval of a plan for safeguarding “traditional values” and a November 2022 decree emphasizing the role of law enforcement in implementing these policies. The government’s efforts to promote “traditional values” have also included offering temporary residency to overseas citizens seeking to escape “neoliberal values.”
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Russia is considering granting police the power to enforce “traditional spiritual and moral values,” a move that has sparked widespread concern and criticism. The proposal, which follows a similar decree issued in November 2022, aims to incorporate these values into education, youth work, and other areas of society. This raises serious questions about the potential for abuse and the erosion of individual freedoms.
The proposed policy’s vague wording raises alarm bells, as it could be interpreted broadly to encompass a wide range of behaviors and beliefs deemed unacceptable by the authorities. This could lead to the arbitrary targeting of individuals for their appearance, lifestyle choices, or political views. Concerns have been raised about the potential for discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals, intellectuals, and anyone deemed “non-conformist.”
The prospect of police acting as moral arbiters evokes comparisons to Iran, where the morality police have a history of enforcing strict religious codes through harassment, arbitrary arrests, and violence. The comparison is particularly concerning given the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, where Russian forces have been accused of widespread human rights abuses.
This proposed policy echoes a troubling trend in Russia and other countries, where authoritarian regimes are increasingly using the concept of “traditional values” to justify restrictions on individual freedoms and to stifle dissent. The potential for abuse is particularly alarming given Russia’s history of repression and the erosion of democratic institutions under President Vladimir Putin.
It is crucial to examine the potential consequences of such a policy. Granting police the authority to enforce subjective and undefined “traditional values” creates a climate of fear and uncertainty, where individuals are constantly at risk of being punished for their beliefs or actions. This could stifle creativity, innovation, and intellectual discourse, ultimately harming society as a whole.
Moreover, this policy could contribute to the further polarization of Russian society. By promoting a narrow definition of acceptable values, the government risks alienating large segments of the population who do not conform to its ideology. This could lead to increased social unrest and instability.
While the full extent of the proposed policy’s impact remains to be seen, it is clear that this move represents a dangerous escalation of the crackdown on individual freedoms in Russia. The international community should closely monitor the situation and express its concern about the potential for human rights abuses. It is essential to stand in solidarity with those who are fighting for their right to live in a free and open society.