Russia Plans Police Force to Enforce ‘Traditional Values,’ Sparking Concerns of Repression
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.”
John Q. Hosedrinker