Recent legislation has lead to a sharp rise in the number of foreigners being deported from Russia, a leading refugee charity reported Tuesday.
Research from migration organization the Civic Assistance Committee shows that more than 513,000 deportation orders have been passed by the Russian courts since 2013.
Civic Assistance Committee spokesman Konstantin Troitsky linked the increase to tougher migration legislature passed in July of 2013. “Deportation has become mandatory in case of repeated violations of law, tax evasion or administrative fines,” Troitsky said. He also pointed to an increase in the number of raids by immigration authorities.
Russia's courts rule to deport defendants in more than 70 percent of migration cases. In some courts, it takes judges three to five minutes on average to deliver a verdict of deportation, the report claimed.
Russia's Federal Migration Service has banned more than 1.7 million foreign citizens from entering Russia since 2012.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
