Relatives of foreigners deported from Russia will be informed of their whereabouts

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation will notify relatives of foreigners in special institutions of their whereabouts prior to their expulsion from the country, as well as the diplomatic mission of the state of which he or she is a citizen. The decree was published on December 9 on the portal of normative legal acts.

The text informs that at the request of a foreign citizen, the territorial body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation will notify about the foreigner's whereabouts his relative, the administration at the place of study or work, defense counsel, diplomatic mission or consular office of the state of which he is a citizen.

The foreign national may ask the head of the institution or his deputy to do so.

The regulation also states that if a foreigner in an institution is the sole legal representative of a child or an incapacitated person, the guardianship and custody authorities will be informed of his or her situation.

In addition, provided that the alien in the MIA is a minor, the agency will have to inform the parents or legal representatives of his/her whereabouts.

The decree will come into force from February 5, 2025.

Earlier in the day, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting with the leaders of parliaments of the member countries of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) that the situation with migration in any country should be comfortable for its residents.

On December 3, Valery Fadeyev, head of the Human Rights Council (HRC), called for toughening migration policy in Russia because the country "does not need kishlaks in cities". In his opinion, foreigners with unique professional skills should be invited to work in Russia even without knowledge of the Russian language. However, he noted that applicants for citizenship should be subjected to maximum requirements - for example, they are obliged to join the military register.

Earlier, on November 22, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted that labor migration in Russia should be strictly regulated, but all rules should be simple and convenient. He emphasized that it is those migrants who arrived in the country illegally and create risks of crime spreading that create the problem. Peskov added that Russia needs migrants for dynamic development.

State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said on November 21 that deputies of the lower house of parliament had adopted an appeal to the Russian government on the implementation of measures to combat illegal migration.

On November 7, Putin said that the Russian authorities should primarily proceed from the interests of Russians in attracting migrants. The head of state emphasized that foreigners who came to Russia would not face rejection from the citizens if they know Russian traditions well, observe the law and speak Russian.