Formation of 'Moral Security Police' in Russia Awaiting Putin's Signature

The Russian government, alongside the approval of laws that will further restrict civil liberties, is seeking to establish a 'Moral Security Police' as a law enforcement agency responsible for overseeing the implementation of these laws. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia has prepared a draft decree that is ready for the President's signature; the draft proposes that oversight of 'moral issues and strengthening traditional values of Russia' be added to the police's duties. The Russian government has long relied on 'traditional values' as ideological foundations of society to combat its opponents, and it now appears to be moving beyond education and propaganda to strengthen practical means of oversight and control. The return to the Soviet era? Executions, which were the main tool of repression during the rule of Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin in the former Soviet Union, decreased in the mid-20th century. This was partly because the political elites of that time were concerned that if they fell out of favor with the leader, the system would turn against them. However, as Nikita Khrushchev and his successors were unable to provide comfort and prosperity for citizens, they focused on strengthening ideological foundations to control society. During Khrushchev's era, the government expected citizens to adhere to 'Communist morality.' According to the 'moral foundations of every builder of communism,' a law passed at the 22nd Congress of the Communist Party mandated 'pure morality and simplicity in social and private life' for citizens. Concurrently with the passage of this law, 'social activists,' who effectively acted as plainclothes police, were tasked with ensuring that Soviet citizens did not deviate from 'Communist morality' by monitoring social order. These 'social activists' primarily sought to combat prostitution, homosexuality, and homelessness, but for instance, when Moscow hosted the International Youth Festival in 1957, groups of these 'social activists' forcibly cut the hair of girls who established friendly or romantic relationships with foreign guests to 'expose their disgraceful behavior.' During Leonid Brezhnev's era, the fight against 'moral deviations' became part of the police's duties, a situation that continued until 1993. Lessons from Russia; 'Brainwashing' under the guise of 'strengthening patriotism.' The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia has requested that 'activities aimed at preserving and strengthening the spiritual and moral values of traditional Russia' be within the police's powers. This request is included in the draft presidential decree published on the official government news portal and is now awaiting Vladimir Putin's signature. In a note outlining the objectives of this decree, it states that granting such powers to the police is necessary for 'aligning the law with public policy objectives'; however, no explanation has been provided regarding how law enforcement officers will preserve and strengthen spiritual and moral values. Two years ago, a few months after the start of Russia's war against Ukraine and the intensification of repression against Kremlin opponents, Vladimir Putin signed a decree titled 'Determining State Policy for the Preservation and Strengthening of Spiritual and Moral Values in Russia,' and last summer a roadmap for implementing this decree during the years 2024 to 2026 was approved by the Russian government. Among other things, these documents state that the government is obliged to 'implement necessary changes in educational programs, scientific and cultural activities, and relations with national and religious activists.' The police is one of the institutions considered in the execution of the government's plan. In Russian government documents, 17 traditional values are enumerated: life, dignity, patriotism, service to the homeland and responsibility for its fate, high moral ideals, fairness, constructive work, strong family, prioritization of spirituality over materialism, collectivism, mutual respect and assistance, respect for historical achievements, unity of nations in Russia, humanism, kindness, civil liberties, and human rights. Additionally, while calling for respect for all religions and sects, the special role of the Orthodox Church in Russian history is emphasized. In 2020, coinciding with constitutional reforms, 'faith in God' was added to the text of this document, and for the first time, 'marriage' was exclusively referred to as 'the union of a man and a woman.' Russian officials do not hide that attention to traditional values in Russia is linked to the intensification of tensions with Western countries, and they have consistently emphasized 'a different path' and 'the special traditional values of Russia' while criticizing the West. The decree from the President of Russia states that 'the destructive influence of Western culture and political propaganda on Russian citizens has weakened the spiritual principles and dynamics and growth of Russian society.' According to this document, threats to traditional Russian values include terrorist and extremist organizations, the United States and its allies, and some media and organizations from 'unfriendly' countries. What is 'Putinism' and does it help sustain Putin's power? Vyacheslav Volodin, the Chairman of the State Duma (the lower house of the Russian Parliament), explicitly claimed in a speech that 'traditional values of Russia act as a shield against Western influence.' He accused the West of 'promoting ideas contrary to traditional values and family principles in Russia' on the eve of voting on the law prohibiting 'voluntary childlessness.' The State Duma unanimously banned 'voluntary childlessness' and also prohibited the adoption of Russian children by citizens of countries where 'gender change is permitted.' From 1993 to 2023, citizens of Western countries adopted over one hundred thousand children from Russia, most of whom suffer from diseases that are untreatable in Russia. According to a statement from Maria Lvova-Belova, the President's representative for children's rights, who currently has an arrest warrant issued against her by the International Criminal Court for the abduction of Ukrainian children by Russia, it was announced that in 2023, six orphaned Russian children found their new families in Italy and France. Kremlin opponents view 'traditional values' as a pretext for the government to intensify repression against civil society. Maxim Olničev, a lawyer, told the publication 'Insider' that the law prohibiting 'voluntary childlessness' is not limited to banning an unknown movement, but based on this law, sexual education in schools will be prohibited, further restrictions on abortion will be implemented, any promotion of contraception will be banned, and even any book or film that references this subject, regardless of its positive or negative view, will be prohibited.