Overview
- The State Duma approved the law on Tuesday, July 21, more than doubling the list of administrative offences that can trigger deportation by adding 23 items to the existing 22.
- New deportation grounds include participation in unsanctioned rallies, so‑called 'discrediting' of the army, calls for sanctions or separatism, disobedience to security forces, petty hooliganism and related offences.
- The law bars any foreigner with a criminal conviction from obtaining Russian citizenship, permanent residence or temporary residence and allows annulment of already issued documents if an unexpunged conviction is found, with stated exceptions for refugees and political emigrants.
- Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin framed the changes as a public‑order measure to admit only law‑abiding people, while rights groups warn the vague offences and expanded administrative powers could be used broadly against migrants and dissenters.
- The vote continues a multi‑year shift since the March 2024 Crocus City attack toward stronger administrative controls over migration, including a registry of 'controlled persons' and earlier rules that let officials order deportations without court review, measures that have already restricted schooling, banking and movement for many foreign residents.