Prilepin: "Someone brought migrants into Russia, but didn't turn them into citizens."

      August 4, 2025, 18:30

      [349]

      Society NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" - Maria OrlovaPolitical and public figure Zakhar Prilepin spoke about Russia's migration policy, emphasizing that the root of the problems with the adaptation of newcomers lies not in the migrants themselves, but in the actions (or inactions) of government agencies. He stated this at the opening of the regional educational program "Heroes. Nizhny Novgorod Region" at the Corporate University of the Government of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, answering a course participant's question.

      Prilepin acknowledged that Russia faces serious problems with migrant integration. However, it is unfair to place the sole blame on the migrants. According to the writer, responsibility for the current situation primarily lies not with the migrants but with the state. It is the government structures (guardianship agencies, education, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and others) that allowed such a situation to develop, he said.

      "Someone launched these people, settled them, registered them, gave them jobs, but did not turn them into full-fledged Russian citizens," Prilepin pointed out.

      He also highlighted corruption schemes, which, in his opinion, underlie the current migration policy. He believes that these should be fought first and foremost, not street raids and conflicts.

      In addition, Prilepin criticized radical anti-migrant sentiments, which, according to him, not only fail to solve the problem but also threaten the country's internal stability. He called rhetoric that advocates violence, isolation, and discrimination against migrants dangerous, adding that such sentiments could lead to "civil war."

      According to him, some of these nationalist movements are financed from abroad and serve as tools of external influence.

      "A huge portion of our nationalist groups’ online communities are Ukrainian," said Rosgvardiya Lieutenant Colonel Prilepin, adding that Russian security agencies already have information about such links.

      He recalled that Russian President Vladimir Putin recently stated, "Nazism grows out of nationalism." In the writer's view, this warning is aimed at those who, under the guise of patriotism, are actually destabilizing society.

      The writer himself calls for a systemic solution to the problem, rather than street self-organization and forceful confrontations. He believes that government institutions need reform, corruption must be fought, and comprehensive migration and integration policies should be developed.

      In conclusion, he emphasized that Russia needs labor resources and managers, and with proper integration policies, migrants from CIS countries can become full members of society.

      "We, as a country, have banked on a policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries, including former Soviet states. We didn’t look into their textbooks, educational programs, universities. We completely ignored these areas, while Turkey, Britain, France, and the USA kept intervening and preparing enemies out of them. And we didn't turn them into friends. Later, they came to us — and, as is known, not the best of them — and it turned out we had problems with them. But we haven’t worked with them for 30 years. I don't want to say that everything is lost. If over 15-20 years Turks and Brits managed to do things detrimental to us, then in the same period, we can make them more aligned with us. For that, we need to create allied states with close ties, as we have with Belarus," he said.

      Earlier, Prilepin called on program participants to learn languages and explore the history and culture of new partner states.

      NIА "Nizhny Novgorod" has a Telegram channel. Subscribe to stay informed about major events, exclusive materials, and operational updates. Copyright © 1999–2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod." When reprinting, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory. This resource may contain 18+ materials.