The State Duma gave a first reading to a bill that gives the police the right to expel foreign citizens from Russia. So far, the administrative expulsion decision can be taken judicially, but also by border guards, if the foreigner commits a crime upon entering the country. Under the new law, the police officers will also have the right to expel foreign citizens and stateless persons, IPN reports, with reference to Current Time.

In connection with this law, the supreme legislative body in Moscow also gave a first reading to a draft law to establish a migration and deportation regime for foreign citizens who do not have the right to stay legally in Russia. The provisions of this law will be applied in connection with the expiry of temporary residence or migration documents, cancellation of a temporary residence permit, and also if a crime is committed.

In this connection, Current Time reports that “75% of Moscow’s cafes, small and large, have closed.” In Russia, the migrants abandon work in the catering sector due to xenophobia and police inspections.

The law stipulates that migrants under expulsion will be prohibited, in particular, from buying real estate and cars. They will not be able to drive a car, take loans, move freely throughout the territory of Russia, get married, open new bank accounts and spend more than 30,000 rubles per month. They will be obliged to inform the police about their location, including to make geolocation photos available to the control bodies.

The draft law also proposes to reduce the period of temporary stay (without a visa) in Russia to 90 days during the year. Currently, visa-exempt foreign nationals can stay in Russia for 90 days over a six-month period.

The source noted that after the terrorist attack at the Crocus multifunctional hall, of which four Tajik citizens are suspected, the Russian authorities have intensified the fight against migrants from Central Asia. There was a mass deportation of foreigners who did not have the necessary papers, and those who arrived were not allowed to enter the country. The authorities in a number of regions restricted the right of migrants to work in passenger transport, taxi service and other industries. According to the official version, such measures were taken “to ensure the safety of the life and health of the local population.”

According to a study conducted by the Institute for Social Analysis and Forecasting at the Russian Academy of National Economy and Public Administration in Moscow, 76,645 Moldovan citizens were in the Russian Federation for work or study purposes in 2022.