Russia’s Internal Affairs Ministry proposes mandatory ‘loyalty agreement’ for foreign visitors

The Russian Internal Affairs Ministry has prepared a draft law that would require foreign citizens to sign a “loyalty agreement” upon entering the country. This agreement would stipulate that while in Russia, the signatory is prohibited from “hindering the activities of Russian public authorities” and “discrediting the external and internal state policies of Russia, public bodies, and their officials in any form,” reports TASS, citing the document.

Additionally, foreigners in Russia would be banned from “abusing the right to freedom of information” by disseminating materials contradictory to “constitutionally significant moral values,” including “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations and distortion of the historical truth” about Soviet “contribution to victory over fascism.”

The ministry did not specify when it plans to submit the draft law to the Russian State Duma.