Elena Teslova
May 26, 2026•Mise à jour: May 26, 2026
AA / Moscow
The lower house of the Russian Parliament, the State Duma, on Tuesday approved in second reading a government-backed bill prohibiting the expulsion of foreign nationals who took part in combat operations within the Russian armed forces.
According to the text published on the Duma website, these provisions concern foreign citizens and stateless persons who have served under contract and taken part in military operations in the ranks of the Russian army or other Russian military formations.
The bill provides that these people will no longer be subject to an expulsion order. The Russian authorities will also not be able to refuse or withdraw their temporary residence permits, residence permits or work permits.
The text further stipulates that all decisions taken since February 24, 2022, the date of the start of the Russian offensive in Ukraine, such as expulsion orders, reductions in the length of authorized stay, refusals to issue residence or work documents, as well as cancellations of these statuses, will not be applied to foreigners who served under contract in the Russian army.
These decisions would be considered null and void under this legislation.
The text must still be definitively adopted by the Duma and then signed by the Russian president to enter into force. The law would take effect ten days after its official publication.
*Translated from English by Serap Dogansoy
