"The persecution of Christianity is on the rise in the United States, making it one of the most targeted religions."
Russia has proposed the idea of constructing a village in the outskirts of Moscow to accommodate American and Canadian families who wish to escape the cultural climate in North America. According to immigration lawyer Timur Beslangurov, the village is intended for conservative families seeking to "emigrate for ideological reasons." During a speech at a legal forum in St. Petersburg, Beslangurov mentioned that approximately 200 families have shown interest in the project. Despite lacking Russian roots, these families have grown weary of what they perceive as the propagation of radical values in the US and Canada.
Beslangurov referenced the notion of there being 70 genders as an example of such values, expressing uncertainty about what may come next. It is worth noting that Russian President Vladimir Putin has employed similar rhetoric when discussing the deteriorating relations between the US and Russia, even likening gender nonconformity to the COVID-19 pandemic in December 2021.
Russia bans LGBT “propaganda” in games, film, TV for all citizens https://t.co/SljYWfApXl pic.twitter.com/mjXRZFoqs2
— Niche Gamer (@nichegamer) December 8, 2022
Russia's parliament has recently approved the third and final reading of a law that prohibits the dissemination of "LGBT propaganda" to adults, as part of its growing conservative agenda within the country. This move coincides with the ongoing nine-month-long conflict in Ukraine. The newly passed bill criminalizes any form of promotion of what Russia defines as "non-traditional sexual relations," whether it be through films, online platforms, advertising, or public forums. This law expands upon a previous controversial legislation from 2013 that targeted the "propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations" among minors and was often used to detain activists advocating for gay rights.
In September, President Vladimir Putin issued a decree emphasizing the importance of a "battle for cultural supremacy" on a global scale and highlighting concerns about the forceful imposition of neoliberal views by certain states. The decree positioned Russia as uniquely situated to defend and propagate conservative perspectives, specifically referring to them as "traditional Russian moral and religious values."
The construction of the village project coincides with Russia's ongoing conflict with Ukraine, which has resulted in international sanctions and a tarnished reputation among tourists and expatriates. Tourism agencies have reported a decline in business, with levels dropping below those seen prior to the pandemic, following the start of the invasion.
BREAKING: Russian state media announces that the Kremlin is building a “MAGA village” in Moscow for American far-right conservatives to move to in order to get away from their increasingly diverse, progressive neighbors and live under Russia’s “Christian values.”
— Occupy Democrats (@OccupyDemocrats) May 12, 2023
Tucker… pic.twitter.com/trW3ZtPeFd
On the other hand, the Federal Security Service reported on May 3 that the number of foreign visitors entering Russia has increased this year. In the first quarter of 2023, there was a 17.6% rise in the influx of foreign citizens compared to the same period in 2022. The state agency highlighted that individuals from China and Central Asian countries like Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan contributed significantly to the increased number of trips to Russia.
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