Russian Federation

42,740

Immigration detainees

2015

No Data

Detained children

Overview

(February 2021) The Russian Federation has one of the largest networks of migrant detention centres in the world, including more than two dozen as of 2020. Observers have criticised conditions at these centres, called Specialised Institutions for the Temporary Detention of Foreign Citizens. Detainees have complained of being physically abused by staff at some centres, and there are reports of poor sanitary conditions, as well as a lack of food and medical personnel. Stateless persons, pregnant women, unaccompanied children, and other vulnerable individuals have been detained at these centres.

Types of facilities used for migration-related detention
Administrative Ad Hoc Criminal Unknown

22 February 2021 – Russian Federation

In December 2020, the Russian government issued a presidential decree extending several COVID-19-related measures affecting foreigners in the country. Measures, which were extended until 15 June 2021, include the suspension of forced expulsions and deportations, as well as the suspension of cancellations of refugee status, visas, work permits, residence permits, and other documents. Certain people […]

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28 Pro Navalny Protestors Held in a Cell Meant for 8 People in Sakhrovo Detention Centre, (Protestny MGU,

19 November 2020 – Russian Federation

Foreign migrant workers have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic in Russia, with large numbers losing employment amidst the economic downturn. In a survey conducted by the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration in April-May 2020, 75 percent of surveyed migrants reported having lost their jobs or being forced into unpaid leave, […]

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Tass News, “Рынок

24 July 2020 – Russian Federation

Since issuing a moratorium on new detention orders on 18 April (Decree of the President of Russia No.2745) (see 18 April update), Russia has reportedly not issued any new detention orders. This was confirmed by the Civic Assistance Committee and Memorial in a GDP survey on 21 July. The organisations also noted that some foreign […]

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Uzbek Nationals Waiting Outside Vnukovo International Airport in Moscow Hoping to Buy Tickets for an Evacuation Flight, (Sergey Ponomarev,

18 April 2020 – Russian Federation

On 18 April, President Putin signed a decree “On Temporary Measures to Resolve the Legal Situation of Foreign Citizens and Stateless Persons in the Russian Federation in Connection with the Threat of Further Spread of the new Coronavirus Infection Covid-19.” This new decree provides that the period from 15 March until 15 June 2020 will […]

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02 April 2020 – Russian Federation

Russia has taken some steps to limit immigration detainee populations. At the same time, it has taken draconian measures that have severely increased the vulnerability of thousands of migrant workers and other foreigners residing in the country. According to ADC Memorial, the government has prohibited the placement of new people in detention centres, and instead […]

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Last updated:

DETENTION STATISTICS

Total Migration Detainees: Flow + Stock (year)
42,740
2015
37,522
2014
14,504
2012
12,481
2011
13,638
2010
Reported Population (Day)
Not Available
2018

DETAINEE DATA

Countries of Origin (Year)
Uzbekistan (Tajikistan)
2015
Total Number of Children Placed in Immigration Detention (Year)
0
2017

DETENTION CAPACITY

Total Immigration Detention Capacity
0
2018

ALTERNATIVES TO DETENTION

Number of Detainees Referred to ATDs (Year)
89,192
2015

ADDITIONAL ENFORCEMENT DATA

Percentage of Removals v. Total Removal Orders (Year)
0.12
2010

PRISON DATA

Criminal Prison Population (Year)
622,079
2017
675,000
2014
Percentage of Foreign Prisoners (Year)
4.3
2015
4.2
2009
Prison Population Rate (per 100,000 of National Population)
430
2017
470
2014

POPULATION DATA

Population (Year)
145,900,000
2020
146,880,432
2018
143,457,000
2015
International Migrants (Year)
11,640,559
2019
11,651,500
2017
11,643,300
2015
11,195,000
2010
International Migrants as Percentage of Population (Year)
8.1
2017
8.1
2015
Refugees (Year)
42,413
2019
77,397
2018
126,035
2017
228,936
2016
314,507
2015
235,750
2014
Ratio of Refugees Per 1000 Inhabitants (Year)
1.6
2016
1.64
2014
New Asylum Applications (Year)
8,094
2019
26,326
2016
274,744
2014
Refugee Recognition Rate (Year)
4.7
2014
Stateless Persons (Year)
75,679
2018
82,148
2017
90,771
2016
113,474
2015

SOCIO-ECONOMIC DATA & POLLS

Gross Domestic Product per Capita (in USD)
12,735
2014
Remittances to the Country
7,115
2014
Unemployment Rate
2014
Human Development Index Ranking (UNDP)
50 (High)
2015
Pew Global Attitudes Poll on Immigration
72
2007

MIGRATION-RELATED DETENTION

GOVERNANCE SYSTEM

Legal Tradition(s)
Civil law
2016
Federal or Centralised Governing System
Federal system
2016
Centralised or Decentralised Immigration Authority
Centralized immigration authority
2016

LEGAL & REGULATORY FRAMEWORK

Do Migration Detainees Have Constitutional Guarantees?
Yes (The Constitution of the Russian Federation, Article 22(2)) 1993
1993
Detention-Related Legislation
Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of 12/30/2013 N 1306 (as amended on 06/17/2016) on the approval of the Rules for keeping (stay) in special institutions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation or its territorial body of foreign citizens and stateless persons subject to administrative expulsion from the Russian Federation in the form of forced expulsion from the Russian Federation, deportation or readmission (Постановление Правительства РФ от 30.12.2013 N 1306 (ред. от 17.06.2016) Об утверждении Правил содержания (пребывания) в специальных учреждениях Министерства внутренних дел Российской Федерации или его территориального органа иностранных граждан и лиц без гражданства, подлежащих административному выдворению за пределы Российской Федерации в форме принудительного выдворения за пределы Российской Федерации, депортации или реадмиссии) (2012) 2016
2012
Law on Refugees (as amended by Federal Law of June 28, 1997 N 95-FZ) (as amended on July 31, 2020), (О беженцах (в редакции Федерального закона от 28 июня 1997 года N 95-ФЗ) (с изменениями на 31 июля 2020 года) (1997) 2020
1997
Code of the Russian Federation on Administrative Offences of 30 December 2001 N°195-FZ (as amended on July 31, 2020) (as amended and supplemented, entered into force on August 11, 2020), ("Кодекс Российской Федерации об административных правонарушениях" от 30.12.2001 N 195-ФЗ (ред. от 31.07.2020) (с изм. и доп., вступ. в силу с 11.08.2020)) (2001) 2020
2001
Law on the Legal Status of Foreign Citizens in the Russian Federation (О Правовом Положении Иностранных Граждан В Российской Федерации) (2002)
2002
Law of the Russian Federation On the State Border of the Russian Federation (Закон РФ "О Государственной границе Российской Федерации" от 01.04.1993 N 4730-1) (1993) 2007
1993
Additional Legislation
Code of Administrative Offences of the Russian Federation, No. 195-FZ of 30 December 2001 (2001) 2012
2001
Civil Procedural Code of the Russian Federation, No. 138-FZ of 14 November 2002 (2002) 2012
2002
The Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, No. 63-FZ of 13 June 1996 (1996) 2012
1996

GROUNDS FOR MIGRATION-RELATED DETENTION

Immigration-Status-Related Grounds
Detention for unauthorised entry or stay
2015
Criminal Penalties for Immigration-Related Violations
Yes (Yes)
1996
Grounds for Criminal Immigration-Related Incarceration / Maximum Length of Incarceration
Unauthorized entry (730)
1996
Unauthorized exit (730)
1996
Has the Country Decriminalised Immigration-Related Violations?
No
1996
Children & Other Vulnerable Groups
Accompanied minors (Provided) Yes
2018
Unaccompanied minors (Provided) Yes
2018
Stateless persons (Provided) Yes
2018
Persons with disabilities (Not mentioned) Yes
2018
Asylum seekers (Prohibited) Yes
2018
Stateless persons Yes
2015
Accompanied minors (Provided)
2015
Asylum seekers (Prohibited) Yes
2013
Mandatory Detention
Yes (Non-citizens who have violated a re-entry ban)
2016
Yes
2016
Yes
2016
Expedited/Fast Track Removal
Yes
2016
Re-Entry Ban
Yes
2016

LENGTH OF MIGRATION-RELATED DETENTION

Maximum Length of Administrative Immigration Detention
Number of Days: 720
2018

MIGRATION-RELATED DETENTION INSTITUTIONS

Custodial Authorities
The General Administration for Migration Issues (The Ministry of Internal Affairs) Internal or Public Security
2018
(Federal Migration Service) Immigration or Citizenship
2016
(Federal Migration Service) Immigration or Citizenship
2013
(Ministry for Internal Affairs) Interior or Home Affairs
2013
Police Internal or Public Security
2013
(Federal Migration Service)
2008
(Federal Migration Service)
2008
Apprehending Authorities
Police (Police)
2018
Federal Security Service (FSB) (Law enforcement, border control and national security)
2018
Detention Facility Management
Police (The Administration for Migration Issues of the Ministry of Internal Affairs) (Governmental)
2018
Federal Migration Service (Governmental)
2015
Federal Migration Service (Governmental)
2013
Ministry for Internal Affairs (Governmental)
2013
Police (Governmental)
2013
Formally Designated Detention Estate?
Yes (Dedicated immigration detention facilities)
2018
Yes (Any facility designated by relevant authority)
2018

PROCEDURAL STANDARDS & SAFEGUARDS

Procedural Standards
Independent review of detention (No)
2016
Right to legal counsel No
2016

DETENTION MONITORS

Types of Authorised Detention Monitoring Institutions
Public Monitoring Commission (Regional) (International or Regional Bodies (IRBs))
2018
High Commissioner on Human Rights in the Russian Federation (Уполномоченный по правам человека в РФ) (National Human Rights Institution (or Ombudsperson) (NHRI))
2016
European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) (International or Regional Bodies (IRBs))
2012

> National human rights monitoring bodies

> National Preventive Mechanisms (Optional Protocol to UN Convetion against Torture)

> Non-governmental organisations (NGOs)

> Governmental monitoring bodies

> International detention monitoring

International Monitoring Bodies that Carry Out Detention Monitoring Visits
2012

TRANSPARENCY

READMISSION/RETURN/EXTRADITION AGREEMENTS

Bilateral/Multilateral Readmission Agreements
Austria (2005)
2017
Austria (2011)
2017
Belgium (2010)
2017
Bulgaria (2012)
2017
Cyprus (2011)
2017
Czech Republic (2012)
2017
Denmark (2011)
2017
Estonia (2011)
2017
Germany (2012)
2017
Finland (2013)
2017
France (2010)
2017
Greece (2004)
2017
Hungary (2011)
2017
Italy (2011)
2017
Latvia (2009)
2017
Lithuania (2003)
2017
Lithuania (2012)
2017
Luxembourg (2013)
2017
Malta (2011)
2017
Poland (1961)
2017
Poland (2013)
2017
Portugal (2013)
2017
Romania (2012)
2017
Slovakia (2010)
2017
Slovenia (2012)
2017
Spain (2011)
2017
Sweden (2012)
2017
Netherlands (2011)
2017
Norway (2012)
2017
Switzerland (2011)
2017
Armenia (2011)
2017
Bosnia and Herzegovina (2016)
2017
Belarus (2014)
2017
Moldova (2011)
2017
Serbia (2015)
2017
Ukraine (2013)
2017
Turkey (2011)
2017
Kazakhstan (2015)
2017
Kyrgyzstan (2013)
2017
Mongolia (2014)
2017
Uzbekistan (2014)
2017
Viet Nam (2009)
2017
EU (2007)
2017

COVID-19

HEALTH CARE

COVID-19 DATA

Has the country released immigration detainees as a result of the pandemic?
Yes
2020

Has the country used legal "alternatives to detention" as part of pandemic detention releases?
No
2020

Has the country Temporarily Ceased or Restricted Issuing Detention Orders?
Yes
2020

Has the Country Adopted These Pandemic-Related Measures for People in Immigration Detention?
COVID-19 Testing: UnknownVaccinations: UnknownProvision of Masks: UnknownProvision of Hygiene Supplies: UnknownSuspension of Visits: Unknown
2021

Has the Country Locked-Down Previously "Open" Reception Facilities, Shelters, Refugee Camps, or Other Forms of Accommodation for Migrant Workers or Other Non-Citizens?
Unknown
2021

Have cases of COVID-19 been reported in immigration detention facilities or any other places used for immigration detention purposes?
Unknown
2021

Has the Country Ceased or Restricted Deportations/Removals During any Period After the Onset of the Pandemic?
Yes
2020

Has the Country Released People from Criminal Prisons During the Pandemic?
No
2020

Have Officials Blamed Migrants, Asylum Seekers, or Refugees for the Spread of COVID-19?
Unknown
2021

Has the Country Restricted Access to Asylum Procedures?
Unknown
2021

Has the Country Commenced a National Vaccination Campaign?
Yes
2021

Have Populations of Concern Been Included/Excluded From the National Vaccination Campaign?
People in Immigration Custody (including legal in "alternatives to detention" or at open reception centres): UnknownRefugees: UnknownUndocumented Migrants: UnknownAsylum Seekers: UnknownStateless People: Unknown
2021

INTERNATIONAL TREATIES

International Treaties Ratified
Ratification Year
Observation Date
CRPD, Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
2012
2012
CTOCTP, Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children
2004
2004
CTOCSP, Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime
2004
2004
CRSR, Geneva Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees
1993
1993
PCRSR, Protocol to the Geneva Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees
1993
1993
CRC, Convention on the Rights of the Child
1990
1990
VCCR, Vienna Convention on Consular Relations
1989
1989
CAT, Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
1987
1987
CEDAW, Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
1981
1981
ICCPR, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
1973
1973
ICESCR, International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
1973
1973
ICERD, International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
1969
1969
Ratio of relevant international treaties ratified
Ratio: 12/19
Individual Complaints Procedures
Acceptance Year
ICERD, declaration under article 14 of the Convention 1991
1991
ICCPR, First Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 1966 1991
1991
CEDAW, Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, 1999 2004
2004
CAT, declaration under article 22 of the Convention 1991
1991
Ratio of Complaints Procedures Accepted
Observation Date
4/7
2017
Relevant Recommendations Issued by Treaty Bodies
Recommendation Year
Observation Date
Committee against Torture 42.The Committee is concerned at reports of extraditions and expulsions of foreign persons carried out by the State party to countries where they may be at risk of torture and other ill-treatment. The Committee is especially concerned about information that persons who may be in need of international protection, particularly those held in pre-removal detention centres, including torture victims, do not have adequate access to asylum procedures and that immigration authorities often fail to register and interview asylum seekers, thereby increasing their risk of refoulement. It regrets the absence of statistical information on extradition requests granted, appeals against such decisions and outcomes thereof (art. 3). 2018
2018
Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women 43.The Committee is concerned about the situation of undocumented migrant women, especially pregnant women and women with small children, in detention centres. 2015
2015
Committee on Migrant Workers 37.The Committee is concerned about reports that Tajik migrant workers and members of their families suffer from discriminatory attitudes and are often targets of hate crimes and xenophobic assaults in the main countries of employment, in particular in the Russian Federation. The Committee is particularly concerned about reports confirming that Tajik migrant workers are frequently subjected to violence, abuse, threats and intimidation by employers, public officials and private individuals in countries of employment. Those who are in an irregular situation are often held in detention centres in prison like conditions for several months or, in the absence of identity documents, for up to one year. 2012
2012
Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 13. Taking into consideration the dialogue held with the Russian delegation, the Committee notes with concern reports about searches ofGeorgian businesses, police demands for lists of names ofGeorgian students, identity checks, destruction of identity papers, detention in inhumane conditions, deportations under a simplified procedure and other repressive measures against Georgian nationalsand ethnic Georgians in 2006 (arts. 2, para. 1 (a), 5 (b)and 5 (d) (i)). The Committee recommends that the State party undertake a thorough investigation, through an independent body, into all allegations of unlawful police conduct against Georgian nationals and ethnic Georgians in 2006 and adopt measures to prevent the recurrence of such acts in the future. 2008
2008
Committee on the Rights of the Child § 62. "The Committee recommends that the State party amend the Federal Refugees Act to comply with the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and ensure that it does not impose additional criteria for be ing accepted as a refugee in the country. It also urges the State party to establish safeguards against the refoulement of children where there are substantial grounds for believing that their life or freedoms would be in danger and establish child - and gender - sensitive procedures for unaccompanied and separated children." 2014
2014

NON-TREATY-BASED INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS MECHANISMS

Relevant Recommendations from the UN Universal Periodic Review
Observation Date
No 2009
2017
No 2013
2017

REGIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS MECHANISMS

Regional Legal Instruments
Year of Ratification (Treaty) / Transposed (Directive) / Adoption (Regulation)
Observation Date
CPCSE, Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse 2013
2013
2017
ECPT, European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment of Punishment 1998
1998
2017
ECHRP1, Protocol 1 to the European Convention on Human Rights (amended by protocol 11) 1998
1998
2017
ECHRP7, Protocol 7 to the European Convention on Human Rights (amended by protocol 11) 1998
1998
2017
ECHR, Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (commonly known as the European Convention on Human Rights 1998
1998
2017

DETENTION COSTS

OUTSOURCING

FOREIGN SOURCES OF FUNDING FOR DETENTION OPERATIONS