The Russian government has prepared a draft law aimed at significantly tightening the country's migration legislation. The document, developed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD), was reviewed at a meeting of the legislative activity commission on March 16. The initiative proposes the mandatory deportation of foreigners for 20 types of administrative offenses, with no alternative penalties.
According to the draft, actions such as participation in unauthorized rallies, coercion to strike, involvement in the activities of undesirable organizations, violation of emergency regulations, and abuse of media freedom will become grounds for compulsory expulsion. Additionally, new offense categories are introduced specifically for foreign citizens, including petty hooliganism with disobedience to police, distribution of instructions for making explosive devices, or illegal remote sale of alcohol.
In some cases, deportation will be imposed as an additional punishment alongside fines, with the draft prohibiting the simultaneous application of multiple additional sanctions for a single offense. The MVD also proposes to increase fines under 14 articles of the Code of Administrative Offenses (KoAP), such as for violations of entry rules, illegal labor activity, or hiring migrants, with fines potentially rising to 4,000–7,000 rubles (up to $85).
The ministry justifies the need for stricter measures by citing a supposed rise in unlawful activity among foreigners. According to MVD data, approximately 100 conflict situations involving migrants were recorded in 2023–2024, with 1,500 people held accountable, and cases of mass fights were also noted. However, experts point out that migrants are not inclined to commit such violations en masse, and they can already be deported for participating in fights under current laws.
Data from the Federal Security Service (FSB) indicates that in 2025, foreigners made 15.6 million trips to Russia (16.7 million in 2024). The number of foreign citizens in the country at the beginning of 2026 decreased to 5.7 million people, a 10% drop compared to the previous year. These figures may suggest potential future impacts of the more stringent migration policy, amid broader societal and economic challenges.
Source: kun.uz