Whimsical as it may sound, modern day Russia could offer a solution to an overpopulated overrun Western Europe. It is an answer that has served mankind for a millennium and more. According to the Moscow Times there is a desperate need for Russia to populate regions that would benefit from animal husbandry and arable cultivation.

Eastern Russia is as far distant from Western Europe as was the American Midwest during the 19th Century. The region is not much more than a hop, skip and a jump for the geographically closer Americans. Forget the myth that Siberia is relentless frozen tundra. South-Eastern Siberia has a temperate climate similar to Northern Europe’s or that of Canada.

This time, the Gulag is far away from Russian thinking. What some Russians and Eastern Europeans have in mind is opening up the vast underpopulated regions of Russia. Despite being the world’s largest country, Russia’s population of 143 million is less than that of tiny insignificant Bangladesh (156m). By comparison, the U.S which could fit comfortably into a corner of Russia has a population of 308m.

Russia’s population would have been similar to that of the United States had it been spared the purges carried out by the mainly Jewish Bolsheviks. It is thought that 100 million Russians lost their lives during the Bolshevik Occupation of their country. One could multiply this figure by bringing into the calculation unborn children of those Russians murdered, worked or starved to death.

The authorities in Far East Russia now offer one hectare of land for each relocating family member. This opportunity is not to be sniffed at; a hectare of land is about the size of a full size sports or football field. That is a lot of land, especially for a family of several members. Free of all charges the land’s owners receive the title deeds to the land and buildings. There is only one condition, the land must be put to use.

Russia’s Minister for Development of the Far East, Alexander Galushka, says, “The intention is to increase the population six-fold to 36 million people from the current 6.4 million. For the present the offer excludes non-Russians.”

Russian Insider news portal: “The huge influx of migrants into Europe might one day force Europeans to flee their own land to seek shelter.” Polish media suggests they could find refuge in Russia’s Siberia. Many already see it as a ‘durable and stable’ solution. “Having found themselves in the middle of the migrant chaos, many Europeans may one day wish to simply run away from the problem,” suggests the Polish news website Obserwator Polityczny.

It reckons many distressed European nations could follow in the footsteps of the peoples of Crimea. Given the choice, East or West, 96% in a referendum decided to become part of Russia. Many Latvians of Russian heritage are now applying for Russian citizenship to take advantage of earlier retirement and higher pensions.

“With the deepening collapse of the West it is envisaged that Russia will become the only durable and stable country in an unstable environment,” the medium’s website states. “Even today, many people from countries ruled by soft-gender politicians, who are unable to cope with the relatively trivial problem of illegal immigration, look to Russia with admiration and hope.”

The website is certain that Russian politicians will “not leave their residents and hide under the desk, waiting until circumstances change so that they can go to the cameras again and lie.”

It goes on to state that the Russian model of state organization has proved to be “more effective, more efficient and, basically, fully resistant to interference. The Russians can sleep peacefully in their beds all the way from Kaliningrad (Russia’s westernmost city) to Magadan (Russia’s easternmost large city on the Pacific), because they are confident that “whoever comes to them with a sword, will perish by the sword.”