Contract soldiers are now prohibited from being deported from Russia

The authorities of Russia want to legally encourage migrants to serve in the ranks of the Russian army.

The President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, has signed a law stating that foreign citizens and stateless persons who have served under contract in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation cannot be expelled from the country. The relevant document was published on March 23 on the official internet portal of legal information.

Corresponding changes have been made to the Code of Administrative Offenses of Russia. Now, instead of expulsion, violators face penalties such as fines or mandatory labor for a period of 100 to 200 hours.

Additionally, according to the new regulations, if a foreigner violates the rules of conduct at official sporting events, they may be subjected to an administrative ban on attending such events for a period of one year to seven years. Previously, such violations also resulted in expulsion from the country.

Earlier, Putin signed a law prohibiting the extradition of foreign citizens or stateless persons serving in the Russian army and participating in combat operations as part of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. The document expands the list of grounds for refusing extradition to another country for criminal prosecution or the execution of a sentence against a foreign contractor.

Experts believe that the country has been engaged in war in Ukraine for four years and has suffered significant losses among military personnel, and therefore seeks to replenish the ranks of the armed forces through such legislative initiatives, including promises of citizenship or bans on expulsion, by attracting foreign citizens living and working in Russia.