Russian abroad
« ... the History of Russian
abroad is rich and full of impressive examples of force of human spirit,
heroism and self-sacrifice.
To not know, not appreciate and not save up it, means,
To make history of Russia poorer »
V.I.Matvienko
Performance on the World congress of compatriots
On October, 24th, 2006, St.-Petersburg
As legislative basis of interaction of St.-Petersburg with foreign compatriots works the Law « About a state policy of the Russian Federation concerning compatriots abroad » №99-ФЗ from May, 24th, 1999 (Federal Law serves in edition of Federal laws from 5/31/2002 №62-ФЗ, from 8/22/2004 №122-ФЗ (12/29/2004), from 12/31/2005 №99-ФЗ, from 7/18/2006 №121-ФЗ).
The concept of this law is based on following
principles.
Interaction of the Russian Federation with compatriots abroad at the present
stage is based on the system approach to the maintenance and a direction of
this kind of activity of Russia in the field of external and internal policy.
Compatriots are considered as people constantly living outside the Russian Federation,
but connected with Russia by historical, ethnic, cultural, language and
spiritual ties, aspiring to keep the Russian originality and feeling necessity
in maintenance of contacts and cooperation with Russia.
The recognition of an accessory to compatriots is based on self-identification
of interested persons and is the certificate of their free will.
The legal basis of actions of the Russian Federation on interaction with
compatriots is realised by the conventional principles and norms of international
law, international commitments of the Russian Federation, the Constitution of
the Russian Federation, federal laws, other normative legal certificates of the
Russian Federation adjusting activity of federal structures of the government
in sphere external and internal policy.
Priority of a state policy of the Russian Federation concerning compatriots
abroad is rendering all-round assistance of high-grade realization and adequate
maintenance of their rights and freedom, and also other legitimate interests on
the basis of observance of norms of international law, preservation and
development of all-round communications of the Russian Federation with
compatriots, and also their organizations.
In realization of measures of interaction with compatriots abroad The Russian
Federation recognizes basic responsibility for guarantees of the individual and
collective rights and for maintenance of worthy conditions of social existence
of all inhabitants.
Russia firmly insists on maintenance and granting to compatriots in the states
of their stay a whole range of civil, political, social, economic, cultural and
other rights and freedom according to the conventional international standards
and builds practical attitudes with these states according to their readiness properly
to consider interests of the Russian Federation, including concerning
maintenance and granting of the specified rights and freedom.
Russian politics concerning foreign compatriots is directed to their adaptation
and integration into a life of the countries of residing at voluntary
preservation of ethnocultural originality, restraint of uncontrollable
migration to Russia. At the same time Russia, in conformity with the
international obligations and the national legislation, is ready to accept in
the territory of the compatriots moving on a voluntary basis or owing to
occurrence of force majeure in the countries of their present residing.
Basic attention is in the activity is directed to assistance of adaptation and
integration and is addressed to support of self-organizing of compatriots that
will allow them to provide with lawful and peace means the equal status with
citizens of the title nation, adequate political representation and
participation in decision-making, access to material and other resources, and
also on creation of conditions for preservation and developments of own culture
alongside with familiarizing with culture of the country of residing (stay).
When the state of stay supposes regular infringement of legitimate rights and
interests of compatriots and their discrimination, the Russian Federation
achieves restoration of validity within the limits of international law.
Infringements of the rights of compatriots can be the basis for revision of the
policy by the Russian Federation concerning the corresponding states supposing
such discrimination.
Special role in law is given to work of subjects of the Russian Federation with
foreign compatriots:
« Clause 19.1. Powers of structures of the government of subjects of the
Russian Federation in the field of attitudes with compatriots (it is entered by
the Federal law from 12/31/2005 199-ФЗ).
Powers of bodies of the government of subjects of the Russian Federation in the
field of attitudes with compatriots are:
- Development and acceptance of laws and other normative legal certificates of
subjects of the Russian Federation according to federal laws;
- Development, acceptance and realization of programs of subjects of the
Russian Federation;
- Other powers certain by federal laws »
With this purpose, executing the Law and according to the specified principles
on July, 8th, 2008 the Government of St.-Petersburg accepts the Program of
realization of a state policy of the Russian Federation concerning compatriots
abroad on 2008 - 2010. The program has allowed to greate a system of
interaction with the Russian, direct work of structures of the government,
establishments and public organizations of St.-Petersburg to achieve of common
aims, to involve the most active and qualified partners on communications of
compatriots with Russia.
«St.-Petersburg House of nationalities » is the participant of this Program. In
2009 there was organized a department for work with compatriots, called to
carry out organizational, methodical, informational and analytical maintenance
of the specified Program of St.-Petersburg.