Beyond Crimea: The New Russian Empire

DATE (PRESIDENCY)	DOCUMENT	SUMMARY OF CONTENTS
10 January 2000 (Putin)	Presidential Decree No. 24, The National Security Concept of the Russian Federationa	One of Russia’s foreign policy goals is defined as protecting the legitimate rights and interests of Russian citizens abroad, including by taking political, economic, and other measures.
28 June 2000 (Putin)	The Foreign Policy Concept of the Russian Federationb	Compatriots are included for the first time in a foreign policy document.
30 August 2001 (Putin)	Concept of Support to Compatriots Abroad by the Russian Federation in the Current Periodc	Compatriots are defined as “constantly living abroad, but having historical, ethnic, cultural, linguistic, and spiritual ties with Russia, trying to preserve their Russian authenticity and having a need to maintain contacts and cooperation with Russia.”d
31 May 2002 (Putin)	Federal Law No. 62-FZ On Russian Federation Citizenshipe	Simplifies the procedure of acquiring Russian citizenship and grants Russian passports to stateless people from the former Soviet Union.
28 November 2002 (Putin)	Basic Guidelines for Support of Compatriots Abroad by the Russian Federation for 2002–2005f	Signifies change in official discourse toward compatriots. Previously seen as a problem, compatriots become a resource.
18 June 2005 (Putin)	Government document No. MF-P12-2990, Program of Measures of Organizational, Legal, Administrative, and Socioeconomic Character for the Purpose of the Longterm Stimulation of Voluntary Resettlement of Compatriots From Abroad to Russiag	Document focused on improving longterm migration policy legislation and economic stimulation measures to attract voluntary settlers.
8 July 2005 (Putin)	Government document No. MF-P2-3405, The System of Measures to Support Russian Compatriots Abroad and Facilitate Their Voluntary Resettlement to the Russian Federationh	Sets out measures for compatriots abroad and for voluntary resettlement including financial and transportation assistance.
29 December 2005 (Putin)	Government decree No. 833, The Russian Language Federal Target Programi (2006–2010)j	Supports Russian language teaching as the basis for the development of integration processes in the CIS. Also aims to meet linguistic and cultural needs of compatriots living abroad.
22 Junek 2006 (Putin)	Presidential Decree No. 637, National Program of Support to Voluntary Migration of Compatriots Living Abroad to the Russian Federationl	Provides a resettlement plan to distribute new arrivals to Russia.m Aims to address the Russian demographic crisis.
2 October 2006 (Putin)	Government decree No. 1370-r, Program for Working with Compatriots Abroad,n 2006–2008o	Priorities include consolidation of the Russian diaspora, support for the print and internet resources of compatriot organizations, efforts to preserve national and cultural traditions.
27 March 2007 (Putin)	Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Russian Federation, Foreign Policy Reviewp	Distinguishes a separate foreign policy dimension called the “humanitarian trend,” which includes protection of compatriots abroad.
12 May 2009 (Medvedev)	Presidential Decree No. 537, Russia’s National Security Strategy to 2020q	Sets goal of “more effective defense of the rights and lawful interests of Russian citizens abroad.”r
23 July 2010 (Medvedev)	Amendment No. 179-FZ to Federal Law On the State Policies of the Russian Federation with Regard to Compatriots Abroads	Status of compatriot in addition to principle of selfidentification has to be supported by the person’s activity in preserving the Russian language and culture, and community participation.
7 May 2012 (Putin)	Presidential Decree No. 605, On Measures for Implementation of the Foreign Policy of the Russian Federationt	Calls for budget increase for projects implemented through the Government Commission for the Affairs of Compatriots Abroad.u
12 February 2013 (Putin)	Concept of the Foreign Policy of the Russian Federationv	Aims to ensure “comprehensive protection of rights and legitimate interests of Russian citizens and compatriots residing abroad, to expand and strengthen the space of the Russian language and culture, support consolidation of organizations of compatriots.”w
4 April 2014 (Putin)	Resolution of the State Duma No. 4077-6 GD, Amendments to Article 14 of the Federal Law on Citizenship in the Russian Federationx	Eases procedures for obtaining Russian citizenship by foreign citizens and stateless persons recognized as native Russian speakers.y