Russia proposes creating an Institute for Repatriates

Anatoly Bublik, head of the “Path Home” project, proposed changing the approach to the problems of resettling compatriots on Sputnik radio. During the eight months since the project was launched, more than 120 thousand people have sought its help. But it is simply impossible to resolve the individual problems of such a huge audience, even with the efforts of many dozens of volunteers. Moreover, most requests concern systemic, recurring issues.

On October 31, during the “Fixing the Primus with Evgeny Primakov” program on Sputnik radio, Anatoly Bublik, head of the “Path Home” project, proposed creating an Institute for Repatriation that could, at the state level, facilitate the resettlement of citizens of other countries or stateless persons who speak Russian or identify ethnically as Russian.

The conversation also included a proposal to establish a Commissioner for Repatriate Affairs, who would exercise independent oversight on behalf of the state over the activities of the executive authorities and the provision of guarantees for the protection of compatriots’ rights.

While preparing documents and relocating, compatriots encounter numerous administrative obstacles, and often bureaucratic delays and absurdities that significantly slow down the relocation process. A comprehensive approach to solving many of these problems will help people make a decision more quickly and return to their historic homeland.

Since 2007, Russia has had a State Program to Facilitate the Voluntary Resettlement of Compatriots to Russia. As part of its implementation, each participating region of the country sets annual quotas for accepting repatriates. They are guaranteed financial, social, and organizational assistance with relocation and settling into their new place of residence. Since September 2023, the “Path Home” project has been holding online video conferences between local regional authorities and compatriots. Meetings have already been held with representatives of Kuzbass, the Far East and Arctic Development Corporation, and Dagestan. A meeting with Omsk Region is being prepared.

You can listen to the program via this link.

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