Since the beginning of 2024, a new mechanism for monitoring foreigners has been operating in Russia — the Registry of Controlled Persons.  It is intended to track migrants who are in the country “illegally.”  However, as it turns out, many people who are legally residing and working in Russia are being added to it.

Being included in the registry effectively means losing access to basic rights: migrants lose the ability to work, study, manage their finances, or move freely.  How it works and why human rights advocates are sounding the alarm — in a report by BBC’s Russian Service.

One mistake — and you’re outside the law

Arsen (name changed), a citizen of Kazakhstan, has lived in Russia for five years. In April, he tried to transfer a small amount of money to a friend via Sberbank, but the transaction was declined: “The Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation has included you in the list of controlled foreign nationals.”

He was banned from performing any banking operations, except for receiving transfers, paying state fees, and withdrawing up to 30,000 rubles per month.

All of Arsen’s savings were on his card.  He called the bank — they referred him to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. He didn’t have money for a lawyer.  With his last 500 rubles, Arsen went to the multifunctional migration center in Sakharovo — a document processing center for migrants.

According to him, he spent nearly the whole day waiting in lines: "A hundred people outside in the snow. They let people in two or three at a time. Riot police, barriers, swearing and shouting. Inside — crowding, unsanitary conditions. In the toilets — blood on the floor, filth, broken plumbing."

Arsen was fingerprinted, underwent medical tests, and received a paper number, without which he couldn't leave the application process.

Who gets added to the registry — and why

According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, more than 685,000 people were added to the registry in just its first month — about one in nine of the officially residing migrants in Russia.

However, human rights defenders believe the number of people included by mistake is much higher.

The registry is meant for those who allegedly have no legal grounds to be in Russia.  But in reality, it includes people with valid visas, work permits, or temporary residence permits.  Reasons include technical errors, database failures, or unscrupulous employers.

A lawyer from Volgograd, K.R. (name withheld at his request), says: “These registries are tools of pressure, isolation, and repression. Being added to such a list is a public stigma with serious legal consequences.”

What the “controlled person” status means

After being added to the registry, a person is prohibited from: changing their place of residence; leaving their region; driving vehicles; opening bank accounts or taking loans; buying or selling property; getting married; starting a business or registering as self-employed; using bank cards, except for withdrawing up to 30,000 rubles per month.

Violating these restrictions can lead to deportation or criminal prosecution.

Dependency and exploitation

According to the World Bank, migrant remittances make up a significant part of the GDP in Central Asian countries: 49% in Tajikistan, 18.6% in Kyrgyzstan, and 14% in Uzbekistan.

At the same time, the Russian economy is heavily dependent on migrant labor: migrants make up over 50% in construction, and up to one-third in logistics and service sectors.

Nevertheless, migrants remain one of the most vulnerable groups. Without registration — which many landlords refuse to provide — a person loses legal status. Registration can only be obtained either through expensive private companies or via fraudulent schemes.

After “Crocus” — a wave of repressions

Massive repressions began after the terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall in March 2024, which the authorities said was carried out by citizens of Tajikistan.  Officials claimed the raids were planned, but human rights activists describe a xenophobic surge: migrants are being detained en masse, deported, beaten, and their children are being denied access to education and healthcare.

A ban was introduced on admitting children who do not speak Russian into schools.  The requirements for obtaining a residence permit through marriage were tightened. The Ministry of Internal Affairs was granted the authority to deport people without a court ruling.

Pressure and propaganda

At the same time, racist statements from politicians have become increasingly frequent, including references to the “darkening” of the Moscow region and claims that “migrants want to live here instead of us.”  None of these statements have faced condemnation at the state level.

Experts believe that Russia is shifting from migration management to a repressive policy of intimidation.  This undermines not only human rights but also the stability of Russia’s own economy, which critically depends on migrant labor.