Bashkir deputies propose not to allow foreigners with expunged convictions into the country
Bashkir parliamentarians have developed amendments to federal legislation that tighten migration policy. The Kurultai proposes not to allow foreigners previously convicted in any country in the world for serious crimes recognized as such in Russia into the Russian Federation, even if their convictions have been removed or expunged. The need for the amendments is explained by the increase in crime among migrants and the social tensions caused by this.
ABOUT development of amendments The head of the parliamentary committee on state building, Vladimir Nagorny, announced at a meeting of the Kurultai of Bashkortostan that amendments to the federal laws “On the procedure for leaving the Russian Federation and entering the Russian Federation” and “On the legal status of foreign citizens in the Russian Federation” were introduced.
Currently, entry into Russia is impossible for foreigners who have an unremoved or unexpunged conviction for an intentional serious or especially serious crime committed in any country and recognized as such by Russian legislation.
Mr. Nagorny proposed closing entry into the country (as well as prohibiting the issuance of work permits and residence permits) to foreigners with a criminal record that has been removed or expunged.
The explanatory note cites statistics from the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs, indicating a 52% increase in the number of murders committed by migrants in 2021–2022, as well as an increase in the total number of crimes in 2023 by 75% (from 12.4 thousand to 21.9 thousand). In connection with this and the “public demand,” it is necessary to strengthen measures to “ensure national security,” the deputies believe. Kurultai Speaker Konstantin Tolkachev assured that the bill is aimed at “improving the regulation of migration flows” — in order to attract “loyal and law-abiding foreign citizens who respect the traditions, history, culture, and laws of our country” to the country as a labor force.
According to the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs, there are up to 630,000 illegal migrants and more than 3.5 million legal foreigners in Russia (mainly from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan; see Kommersant of August 28 and 29). In July 2024, the State Duma passed a law creating a register of controlled persons for foreign violators (to come into force in February 2025). Anyone included in such a register faces deportation from the country and is prohibited, for example, from registering legal entities and individual entrepreneurs, getting married, or acquiring and registering property.
State Duma deputy from Bashkortostan Rafael Mardanshin (United Russia) supports the initiative, believing that "individuals with a criminal record that has been expunged or spent are more susceptible to recidivism." First Deputy Chair of the State Duma Committee on State Building and Legislation Irina Pankina (United Russia) notes that expunging or spending a criminal record legally makes a person free of criminal convictions. "It is important to observe the general legal principles of equality and justice," said Ms. Pankina, promising to "study the bill in detail" after it is submitted to the State Duma.
Political scientist Nikolai Evdokimov points out that the Kurultai initiative is in line with the all-Russian trend. "Russia has found itself in a situation where the labor shortage can really be filled by migrants, but the process of their socio-cultural adaptation is very difficult and causes discontent among the population," says Mr. Evdokimov.
