Russia prepares to expand list of deportable offences for foreign citizens to 45

Russia's parliament has approved the first reading of a bill that doubles the number of administrative offences triggering the deportation of foreign nationals.

The Chairman of the State Duma, Vyacheslav Volodin, said the list of offences had been expanded to 45 from an initial proposal of 43 following suggestions from MPs.

Volodin said on his Telegram channel that the measures aimed to "ensure public safety" and "establish order" in migration.

The latest additions to the draft law include disobeying border guards and committing acts of discrimination, such as violating rights based on race, sex, or religion.

Under the proposed legislation, foreign nationals can also be deported for discrediting the Russian military, participating in unauthorised rallies, calling for international sanctions, and violating martial law regulations.

Other proposed grounds for deportation include firing weapons into the air at weddings, disobeying police officers, and petty hooliganism.

Moscow has significantly tightened its migration policies on the orders of President Vladimir Putin, following the March 2024 terror attack on the Crocus City Hall concert venue near Moscow.

Since then, the Russian parliament has considered dozens of restrictive measures targeting foreign workers.

Among the most prominent changes is the creation of a "registry of controlled persons" for migrants who violate migration laws. Those placed on the list are banned from driving, moving house, marrying, or using banking services.

Deportation procedures have also been streamlined. Since February 2025, local police chiefs, rather than courts, have held the authority to order deportations.

Additionally, migrant children must now pass a Russian language exam before enrolling in schools, a requirement critics say has locked out more than 80% of foreign children from basic education.