A Tiktok account with over 100 thousand likes and 17 thousand followers made a reaction video in which certain statements were made regarding the bilateral relationship between Russia and African countries. In the video, the claim was made that Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, has issued visa free entrance to anyone who is in possession of any African passport. It was also claimed that Putin has issued wages to every African man who wants to join the Russian Army and that all they have to do is go to the Russian Embassy at their location, and a private jet will be sent to pick them up and drop them off in Moscow.
The video, as of the time of this report, has received over sixty thousand likes and has been replied to by over seven thousand people, many of whom have the impression that it is true.
A popular Nigerian immigration blogger with over 26 thousand followers, who provides news and information about immigration opportunities primarily in Canada, reposted the video on Instagram with the caption “Hmmmm, what do you think?”
Claim 1: Is it true that Putin has issued a visa-free entrance and passport waiver to anyone in possession of any African nation’s passport—whether as a tourist, a resident, or a student—and to every African who wants to travel to Russia?
Verification
In verifying this claim, the CDD War Room examined the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and did not find any information regarding the issuance of visa-free entrance to everyone in possession of an African passport.
We, however, found that in September 2023, the Russian news agency (Tass) reported that Oleg Ozerov, the Russian foreign ministry ambassador-at-large, stated that Russia has set the stage for a visa-free regime with six African countries and that the agreement will be finalised as a matter of negotiation. He also stated that Russia had concluded visa exemption agreements for holders of diplomatic passports with 32 states in Africa.
At the moment, of the 59 countries that are visa free entry to Russia, only three are African countries.
Verdict: False.
Russia is not visa-free for everyone in possession of an African passport.
Claim 2: Is it true that the requirement for any African to join the Russian army is just to go to the Russian Embassy in their country, and a private jet will be sent to pick them up and take them straight to Moscow? Are they also allowed to travel with every immediate member of their family and are entitled to immediate citizenship?
Verification
In verifying this claim, CDD War Room found that there was no credible announcement or information regarding the enlistment of Africans into the Russian army from their home countries. There was, however, news regarding the enlistment of foreign immigrants in Russia into the army.
In September 2023, in the middle of ongoing war with Ukraine, the Russian government announced a fast track pathway to obtaining Russian citizenship, which involved active participation in the war with Ukraine. It was reported that a presidential decree stated that immigrants who signed a contract for at least a year and took part in active hostilities for at least six months were allowed to apply for citizenship without demonstrating sufficient knowledge of Russian or the fact that they’d lived in the country for five straight years under a residency permit. Spouses and children were also eligible to apply. Authorities were obligated to decide on such applications within three months. This means that enlisting in the Russian army will help to bypass the usually stringent requirements for obtaining citizenship.
In January 2024, it was also reported that a new decree made the pathway to citizenship even quicker. The decree states that a decision on such applications shouldn’t take more than a month, instead of three. It also states that the relatives of applicants will be able to apply for citizenship.
Verdict
Misleading.
The existing pathway to Russian citizenship is for immigrants who are already in Russia, not for African nationals who are in their home countries.
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