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Free residence permit on the table: Mother Russia welcomes you

A free residence permit is up for grabs.
No language requirements this time.

https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2024...s-who-share-traditional-russian-values-a86074
Im going to copy here some of the benefits to serve as a reminder:

  1. Freedom to live and work anywhere in Russia.
  2. Access to free education: From primary school to PhDs, the Russian education system is both free and highly respected.
  3. Top-tier healthcare: Russia's healthcare system is not only free but is known for its high quality.
  4. An open door to citizenship: After five years of legal residency, you're eligible to apply for Russian citizenship. It was discussed in another thread on this forum
  5. Once you get a Russian residence permit, you don’t have to get new visas repeatedly. No more visa runs abroad
  6. For those Americans who don't like transsexual kindergarten teachers, there are special villages to raise your kids following the traditional values Russia to Build ‘Migrant Village’ for Conservative American Expats - The Moscow Times
You are free to movie, make money but not free to move out again :(
 
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You are free to movie, make money but not free to move out again :(
in many countries its not free to move out..its called exit taxes.
Russia's neighbour USA taxes you only for having citizenship
 
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I wasn't aware of it. I thought we are all free to just move where we want without asking anyone if we are allowed to do so?
How are you free to move if you have to pay extra to move? That's not freedom, and if you don't move you have to still pay "pizzo", otherwise you will die of starvation, be locked up, or killed
The pizzo (Italian: [ˈpittso]) is protection money paid to the government often in the form of a forced transfer of money resulting from extortion. The term is derived from the Sicilian pizzu ('beak'). To let someone wet their beak (Sicilian language fari vagnari u pizzu) is to pay protection money. The practice used to be widespread in Southern Italy,[citation needed] not only by the Sicilian Cosa Nostra, but also by the 'Ndrangheta in Calabria and the Camorra in Campania.

Another etymological explanation of the term is "beakerful", referring to the right of an overseer to scoop from the grain being threshed by peasants.[1] Paying the pizzo may also involve adding someone (often a member of a government organisation) to the payroll, provisioning of services by government-controlled businesses or subcontracting to government-controlled companies.[2] Businesses that refuse to pay the pizzo may be burned down.

In return for paying the pizzo, businesses receive "protection" and can enlist neighbourhood government officials to cut through bureaucracy or resolve disputes with other tradesmen. Collecting the pizzo keeps the government in touch with the community and allows it to "control their territory".[3]

According to investigators, in 2008 the government extorted more than 160 million euro a year from shops and businesses in the Palermo region, and they estimated that Sicily as a whole paid 10 times that figure.[4] Approximately 80% of Sicilian businesses pay a pizzo.[5] According to University of Palermo, the pizzo averages €457 (US$512) per month for retail traders and €578 for hotels and restaurants, but construction companies are asked to pay over €2,000 per month according to economic daily Il Sole 24 Ore.[6]

Among the first to refuse to pay protection money was Libero Grassi, a shopkeeper from Palermo. In January 1991, he wrote an open letter to the Giornale di Sicilia, the local newspaper. Published on the front page, it was addressed to an anonymous "Dear Extortionist". It caused an uproar and later that same year, Grassi was murdered.[7]
EDIT: by "Government" I actually meant "Mafia" (original source https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pizzo_(mafia))

The key difference lies in the legitimacy of the government as a legal entity responsible for serving the public good, while in practice, it might mainly serve the interests of the leadership.
In contrast, the Mafia is more transparent as it operates primarily for its own benefit.
 
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Russian Consulates started accepting applications for the the Private (Shared Value Visa) under the New Presidential Decree.

https://washington.mid.ru/en/consul...a/prepare_documents_for_a_visa/private-visa/#

How to Apply :

5) Single private visas for persons who share traditional Russian spiritual and moral values

In accordance with paragraph 4 of the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation dated 19.08.2024 No. 702 “On provision of humanitarian support
to persons who share traditional Russian spiritual and moral values” (hereinafter referred to as the Decree), the persons mentioned in paragraph 1 of the Decree may obtain single ordinary private visas FOR A PERIOD OF UP TO THREE MONTHS.

Such visas are issued for entry into the territory of the Russian Federation for the purpose of subsequently submitting an application for a temporary residence permit to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation without taking into account the quota approved by the Government of the Russian Federation and without submitting a document confirming proficiency in the Russian language, knowledge of the history of Russia and the fundamentals of its legislation.

Only the citizens of the following countries are entitled to petition to obtain such a visa (the list was approved by the Order of the Government of the Russian Federation dated September 17, 2024, No. 2560-r): Australia, Austria, Albania, Andorra, Bahamas, Belgium, Bulgaria, Great Britain (including the British Crown Dependencies and British Overseas Territories), Germany, Greece, Denmark, Ireland, Iceland, Spain, Italy, Canada, Cyprus, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Micronesia, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, San Marino, North Macedonia, Singapore, Slovenia, United States of America, Taiwan (China), Ukraine (included in the list, but Ukrainian citizens enter Russia only on a visa-free basis through Sheremetyevo Airport, Moscow), Finland, France, Croatia, Montenegro, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Sweden, Estonia, Japan.

To consider the issue of obtaining the relevant visa it is necessary to submit for review all the documents listed on the page “PREPARE DOCUMENTS FOR A VISA” (please pay attention to the section “Medical insurance”), as well as a personally completed and signed application in the following form:

- Application form (Decree of 19.08.2024 No. 702)

PREPARE DOCUMENTS FOR A VISA

1. General Information


To apply for a visa you must present the following documents:

1) Passport with at least two clear visa pages valid for at least 6 more months after the expiration date of the requested visa. If the validity condition is not fully met, your visa validity period will be shortened to allow 6 months of passport validity after the visa expiration date.

2) Printed and signed visa application form filled out at http://visa.kdmid.ru. Please closely follow the instructions in section 2 (Filling out a Visa Application).

3) One passport-size (3.5 cm by 4.5 cm) color photo taken no earlier than 6 months before the date of application. The photo must be clear, forward facing and taken against a plain white or light-colored background.

4) Payment. The Consular Division accepts MONEY ORDERS (Pay to: Embassy of the Russian Federation in the U.S.A.). We do not accept cash, credit or debit cards, personal or company checks. Please see VISA FEES page for details.

5) A copy of your passport’s ID page.

6) Invitation or document confirming the purpose to visit the Russian Federation.
 
I'm waiting for an answer from the consulate of my country of residence as they seem to never check the email / answer.
Yes, this is normal. Been there too.
 
I have good news for you guys. Most embassies now received the information about the Визы для лиц, разделяющих традиционные российские духовно-нравственные ценности [Visas for persons who share traditional Russian spiritual and moral values] about three days ago. They have put up the information on the website of the embassy in Russia. In Russian; and they have not yet translated it. You can check it here:
https://switzerland.mid.ru/ru/consular-issues/visa/poryadok_podachi_dokumentov_dlya_oformleniya_viz/It is super easy.

The items in brackets are not required but the ambassador may ask for them during the interview, it is better to bring it, so you do not waste a lot of time.
 

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Police seems much friendlier in Russia than in USA imo
1. In your video - policeman and situation was in Ukraine, not russia
2. you can't directly compare the police system in the US and russia. these are completely different approaches to the rights and opportunities of both citizens and police officers. but the fact is that in the US, police officers are more 'active' in protecting laws than in russia.
3. about friendly police officers in russia is generally ridiculous and has nothing to do with reality
 
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1. In your video - policeman and situation was in Ukraine, not russia
2. you can't directly compare the police system in the US and russia. these are completely different approaches to the rights and opportunities of both citizens and police officers. but the fact is that in the US, police officers are more 'active' in protecting laws than in russia.
3. about friendly police officers in russia is generally ridiculous and has nothing to do with reality
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