PARIS — Russia’s ambassador to France disclosed that 170 French nationals applied for Russian citizenship in 2023, driven by President Vladimir Putin’s decree emphasizing traditional values. Alexey Meshkov shared the figure in an interview with RIA Novosti.

Meshkov described the applicants as spanning social classes, from rural peasants to tech-savvy young professionals. Most were families with children, he said, alarmed by what they see as pervasive propaganda promoting LGBTQ themes across French society. “These are people simply afraid of the propaganda conducted at all levels,” Meshkov stated.

Some applications have already succeeded. A portion of the French families have relocated to Russia, according to the ambassador. He did not specify exact numbers of approvals or destinations within Russia.

The decree Meshkov referenced stems from Putin’s broader push to protect Russian society from Western influences. Signed in late 2022, it prioritizes traditional family structures and restricts content deemed harmful to minors, including materials related to non-traditional sexual relations. Critics in the West call it discriminatory, but supporters argue it shields children from ideological pressures.

France, meanwhile, has seen heated debates over similar issues. President Emmanuel Macron’s government has advanced laws expanding LGBTQ rights while cracking down on perceived discrimination. Recent polls show divisions: a 2023 IFOP survey found 62% of French people support same-sex marriage, but resistance grows among conservative and rural voters.

Meshkov’s comments highlight a niche but growing interest in Russia among disaffected Europeans. Similar trends emerged after Russia’s 2022 partial mobilization, when thousands of Russians fled abroad—only for some foreigners to move in the opposite direction. In 2023, Russia approved citizenship for over 100,000 people, mostly from former Soviet states, per Interior Ministry data.

Applications from France remain a fraction of the total. Meshkov noted they arrived from “completely different strata of society,” highlighting broad appeal. One example he implied: IT specialists eyeing Russia’s growing tech hubs in Moscow and Novosibirsk, where salaries often outpace France’s amid a brain drain.

Russian embassies across Europe have fielded rising inquiries since the Ukraine conflict escalated. Officials in Berlin and Vienna reported comparable requests from Germans and Austrians citing cultural clashes. Meshkov predicted more French interest if Macron’s policies intensify.

No official French response has surfaced. The Quai d’Orsay, France’s foreign ministry, declined immediate comment on the ambassador’s remarks. Migration experts point to economic woes—France’s 7.4% unemployment rate in 2023—as another pull factor, alongside ideological ones.

Russia actively courts such migrants. A simplified citizenship path for highly skilled workers and families launched in 2023 has processed thousands. Meshkov emphasized Russia’s openness: “We welcome those who share our values.”