In Russia, foreign fighters have been guaranteed protection from deportation
Russia has passed a law prohibiting the deportation of foreigners who have signed a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense and participated in combat operations, particularly against Ukraine. The new rules also provide them with simplified access to residence and work permits, and previously issued deportation orders are effectively retroactively revoked. The law has already been approved by the State Duma and significantly changes the legal status of such individuals in the country.
The Russian State Duma has passed a law that effectively establishes a separate legal regime for foreign citizens who have signed a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense and participated in combat operations. This involves a complete ban on their deportation, as well as guarantees regarding their stay in the country.
According to the adopted regulations, such individuals cannot be denied entry into Russia, nor can their access to obtaining work permits, residence permits, and other migration documents be restricted. Furthermore, decisions regarding their undesirable status or the shortening of their stay in the country are not permitted. “The law also retroactively repeals similar decisions made since February 24, 2022, regarding participants in hostilities against Ukraine,” the statement reads.
Prior to the adoption of this law, foreigners who participated in hostilities on Russia’s side could face the risk of administrative decisions regarding deportation or restrictions on their stay. Now these restrictions are retroactively revoked, effectively legalizing their status from the start of the full-scale war against Ukraine.
Russian authorities have long been actively recruiting foreigners to sign contracts with the Ministry of Defense. According to various reports, in a number of cases, this involves not only voluntary decisions but also various forms of pressure or incentives to join the army. The new law, in essence, grants such individuals special legal protection within the country.
In several countries, the participation of citizens in a war on the side of a foreign state may be considered mercenary activity and subject to criminal punishment. In particular, there have been reports of legal proceedings against individuals who participated in combat operations on Russia’s side in countries such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan.
Against this backdrop, the new Russian law creates a situation where foreign combatants receive enhanced protection in the Russian Federation but may remain subject to legal prosecution in their countries of origin. This creates a complex legal conflict that extends far beyond the scope of domestic Russian legislation.
In effect, the adopted amendments grant foreign combatants a special status that combines elements of immigration amnesty and legal guarantees of residence. For some of them, this means the opportunity to legalize their status in Russia, obtain documents, and avoid deportation even in cases where such decisions had previously been made.
At the same time, experts note that such steps may also be linked to Russia’s desire to maintain foreign recruitment in its military structures and create additional incentives for signing contracts in the future. This is reported by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
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