How russia’s propaganda-driven resettlement program failed
ru-propaganda claims that over 50 people from “unfriendly” European countries and the United States have relocated to nizhny novgorod—the pilot region of the state program “time to live in russia.” Authorities have now launched a separate adaptation program for the children of these resettled foreigners.
▫️ The kremlin is pouring significant resources into promoting this relocation initiative—holding large conferences and producing a stream of media content. By portraying an allegedly high interest among foreigners in moving to russia, the kremlin aims to present the country as a “magnet” for immigration. However, the fact that only around 50 people joined the program reveals its failure. Other resettlement initiatives such as “golden visas” and the “return of compatriots” have similarly fallen flat.
Moreover, the state’s performative concern for children of foreign resettlers in this largely unpopular program highlights the hypocrisy of the russian authorities. While children from Western countries are given free tutors and school privileges, hundreds of thousands of migrant children from Central Asia continue to face harsh discriminatory restrictions.
