The first region of the Russian Federation has banned the issuance of housing certificates to foreigners.

      The first Russian region has officially restricted foreigners' right to receive government-funded housing. The decision was made by the authorities of Yamal (YNAO).

      From January 1, new rules of the housing capital program (obtaining a housing certificate — Uralweb note) for young families came into force in the YNAO, Readovka reports. Now only Russian citizens born on its territory or who have lived in the country for at least 20 years will be eligible for support.

      The requirements do not apply to natives of newly annexed territories and participants in the state program for the resettlement of compatriots.

      In addition, the authorities shortened the period to redeem the certificate from 180 to 120 days. This is the first regional precedent in Russia that allows barring recent migrants from receiving state-funded housing.

      Recall that last year social networks were shaken by a series of reports from various regions of the Russian Federation about the handing out of housing certificates to families who had recently moved to Russia from Central Asian republics. Formally they met officials' criteria for young and large families, but from the point of view of the indigenous population, local authorities thereby support replacement migration. In some cases journalists found that such families do not intend to assimilate: adults retain patriotism toward their native homeland, and children are raised according to its customs rather than Russian ones.