Moscow clamps down on foreign teachers for “spreading extremism”

Moscow authorities have prepared a draft bill that places restrictions on the activities of foreigners who want to teach in the capital, to avoid “spreading extremist ideology, national and religious hatred”.

The bill takes away the benefits that foreign teachers enjoy, at the moment they don't need work permits to get teaching jobs in Moscow, only valid visas. This represents a serious advantage in Russia's otherwise cumbersome bureaucracy, and now officials plan to scrap it.

Explaining why they want to tighten the screws, the authors of the bill claim that foreign teachers are often not only underqualified, but also spread national and religious hatred, as well as extremism.

Persuaded by the threat, Moscow City Duma deputies approved the creation of the bill on Tuesday, Kommersant business daily writes.

If the bill becomes law foreigners looking for teaching work in Moscow will need to get a work permit.

The initiative has been met with criticism from higher education executives, as it takes months to obtain a work permit for a foreigner in Russia.