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- Range of options: they want to open access to all state services of the Russian Federation to compatriots abroad
Range of options: they want to open access to all state services of the Russian Federation to compatriots abroad
They want to provide compatriots abroad with access to the full range of public services, Izvestia found out. We are talking about the development of the digital service "Homeland Map", which can be used without a VPN. Rossotrudnichestvo confirmed its intention to link the service with Public Services and expand access to it in other countries in the future. The service can be used by both Russians and those who do not yet have Russian citizenship, but would like to relocate or keep in touch with their homeland. The government is also ready to consider the draft law on the "Russian compatriot card" again — this became relevant after the deportation of Russians from Latvia in October 2025. The State Duma is ready to address this issue in the new year. About how they want to help Russian compatriots abroad — in the material of Izvestia.
What the Rodina Map service provides
In 2024, Rossotrudnichestvo launched the electronic application "Homeland Map", through which compatriots living abroad can access some public and private services. The government supports this project and is inclined to develop it in the future, an informed source told Izvestia.
— In the future, compatriots can get access to public and private services in electronic form, by analogy with "Public Services," he said.
Rossotrudnichestvo confirmed that they plan to further develop the "Homeland Map". Today it is available in four countries, including Armenia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. If the experiment is successful, the service will be taken to a new level, and it will become available in other countries, Anton Chermensky, head of the Information policy department of Rossotrudnichestvo, told Izvestia. The timing of the experiment is not specified.
— Since the fall of 2024, active negotiations have been underway with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Economic Development on the further development of the project. In particular, an agreement has been reached to integrate the service with the Gosuslug portal," he said.
The main Russian state portal does not operate abroad without a Russian VPN, while the Rodina maps application is available without restrictions. Initially, the service was created in order to facilitate the efforts of Russian compatriots who want to move to the Russian Federation. After identification, the user gets access to the digital signature. With its help, you can use a number of services. For example, you can get medical insurance or open an account in a Russian bank.
In the future, the service will help compatriots get full access to public services, where they can start working on documents, which reduces the wait for obtaining a certain status in the territory of the Russian Federation by several times, the author and head of the Path Home project Anatoly Bublik said earlier.
In order to engage federal agencies in dialogue, the service has been included in the Federal Government for People project since January 1. This opens up the possibility of obtaining SNILS for all Russians living abroad, Rossotrudnichestvo explains. Anyone can also use the card, including compatriots who do not have Russian citizenship. They can get all the necessary information in the application, making it easier for them to apply for a Russian passport.
Human rights activists positively assessed the idea of such an electronic service, saying that their presence does not solve the systemic problems that arise for those who want to move to Russia.
— Often in Russia there is not enough support and proper attention for those who wish to move. For example, we need to have some kind of working group, which would include high-ranking officials, deputies who could help repatriates," Ivan Melnikov, vice—president of the International Committee for the Protection of Human Rights, told Izvestia.
As an example, he cited a pensioner who was deported from Estonia. Due to bureaucratic obstacles, he could not obtain Russian citizenship for a long time.
What is a "Russian compatriot card"?
In addition to electronic services, the so-called "Russian compatriot card" could significantly facilitate moving to Russia and keep in touch with the motherland. The Russian government is ready to consider a draft federal law on the introduction of this card if it is submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers in the prescribed manner, an informed source told Izvestia.
This idea has been repeatedly raised by deputies and representatives of the Russian government. For example, in 2023, Anton Alikhanov, who was then the head of the Kaliningrad Region, proposed introducing the "Russian map". According to him, this should support everyone who wants to come to Russia for work or permanent residence.
— Everyone probably knows what a "pole card" is. We believe that such a mechanism as the "compatriot card" — whatever you want to call it: a program of soft repatriation, support for our former compatriots abroad — could be applicable," he said.
The "Pole card" is a document confirming a person's belonging to the Polish people. To get it, you need to prove the presence of the appropriate roots and confirm your knowledge of the Polish language. Card holders receive the right to a long-term visa, permanent residence permit, and after a year they can obtain citizenship.
The creation of a Russian equivalent was recently proposed in the State Duma. In October 2025, the parliament adopted a resolution asking the government to provide support to Russians deported from Latvia, consider economic sanctions against the Baltic country, and also consider introducing a "Russian compatriot card." In July, the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs of Latvia reported that 841 citizens of the Russian Federation had expired their residence permit, they had to leave Latvia by the end of November 2025.
The State Duma is ready to discuss and develop an initiative to introduce a declaration of a Russian compatriot, Konstantin Zatulin, first deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs, Eurasian Integration and Relations with Compatriots, told Izvestia.
— There must be a document certifying that you are a compatriot: a card, a declaration, a certificate. To consolidate the benefits that are provided to compatriots: moral and material. If the government is ready for any discussion, I am ready personally. I've been on this topic since 1993, since I was elected to the first State Duma," said the parliamentarian.
Today, Russian compatriots who do not have citizenship can receive benefits only if they have received the status of a participant in the state program of voluntary resettlement. For example, they are compensated for the costs of transporting personal property and, if necessary, for travel from abroad to the Russian Federation. However, only those who are going to relocate can receive benefits, and all other compatriots remain without a documented status, Zatulin notes. Thus, this gap in the legislation still remains and needs to be resolved, the deputy sums up.
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