State Duma Proposes to Ban Entry for Foreigners with Criminal Records in Russia

State Duma lawmakers are proposing a lifetime ban on entry into Russia for foreign citizens with criminal records. The relevant bill is being submitted for parliamentary review.

"The bill proposes a lifetime ban on entry rights for foreign nationals and stateless individuals whose convictions have not been expunged or have been for serious crimes," the explanatory note states.

The document indicates that currently measures have been taken to prevent convicted foreign citizens from entering Russia for only a limited time.

"These measures are proposed to prevent significant harm to citizens of the Russian Federation and violations of their fundamental rights, as well as to reduce crime among foreign nationals and stateless individuals," the document concludes.