Mastering the Russian language, knowledge of Russian history, and the fundamentals of legislation by foreign citizens (stateless persons) arriving in the territory of the Russian Federation: issues and prospects for legal regulation

The article is dedicated to the study of the problem of legalizing the stay of foreign citizens (stateless persons) in Russia without having a minimal level of proficiency in the Russian language, knowledge of Russian history, and the basics of Russian legislation. The topic is relevant due to the fact that uninformed newcomers are unable to socialize within Russian society, exacerbate the criminal situation, and pose a threat to national security. There is no consensus in legal literature regarding the solution to this issue. The subject of the study consists of the provisions of a number of legal acts regarding the regulation of the exam process in Russian language, Russian history, and the basics of Russian legislation, as well as the circulation of certificates confirming knowledge and skills. Special attention is given to legal acts that establish the technical parameters for the security level of certificate forms. The key research methods used were analysis and formal-legal methods. The first allowed for the examination of various scientific approaches to improving the exam process and the circulation of certificates, while the second involved studying legislation and formulating the author's opinions and conclusions. The scientific novelty of the research is due to the fact that it illustrates the current state of legal regulation regarding migrants' obligation to confirm their proficiency in the Russian language, knowledge of Russian history, and the basics of Russian legislation. Based on the research findings, the author suggests replacing certificates with statements featuring a unique two-dimensional barcode (QR code). To prevent dishonesty during the examination process, there is an opinion on the necessity of selecting the chairperson of the examination commission from external state institutions. Each candidate should be coordinated with the territorial office of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation. The chairperson of the commission should be tasked with drafting a conclusion regarding compliance with the procedure at the end of each meeting. The quality of knowledge and skill assessments can be enhanced by unifying the organizational and methodological principles of conducting tests.