Russia to implement full control over migrants with new law

Russia is set to implement comprehensive state control over foreign nationals who are subject to deportation under a new law that will take effect on March 5, 2025.

The legislation grants police officers the authority to enter residential premises and other locations where these migrants are residing, marking a significant expansion of government oversight, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

The new provisions also enable law enforcement to request critical information and documents from both Russian authorities and foreign governments. This includes details that may contain commercial, banking, and tax secrets, as well as sensitive data such as the presence and numbers of foreign nationals' bank accounts. The police will also have access to information regarding the movement of funds in those accounts as part of the deportation process.

In a further escalation of control, the Ministry of Internal Affairs will be permitted to conduct surveillance of foreign nationals in deportation mode, including utilizing technical tools for monitoring. The law also extends to individuals and organizations providing assistance to foreign nationals during their stay in Russia, with police granted the authority to access mobile device data, geolocation, and payment system records that support facial recognition technology.

Starting from March 5, Russia will implement a deportation regime for foreign nationals or stateless individuals who are illegally staying in the country or have violated the law. Their rights and freedoms will be restricted, and federal state control measures in the migration sphere will be applied to them.

By Vugar Khalilov