RBC reports that over the first six months of this year, Moscow courts have handed down around 27,000 rulings on administrative penalties under three main migration-related articles of the Code of Administrative Offences (CoAF). 

A notable spike reportedly occurred from June 3 to 9, with courts issuing penalties in 2,336 cases, the highest weekly total for the year. 

This figure is nearly 1.5 times higher than the week following the terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall on March 22, which saw 1,441 rulings.  The Civic Assistance Committee (recognized as a foreign agent) first noted this spike.

The administrative cases considered by Moscow courts involved: Article 18.8 of the CoAF -- violation of the rules of entry to Russia or the regime of stay by a foreign citizen or stateless person (22,219 rulings); Article 18.10 of the CoAF -- violation of labor activity rules by a foreign citizen in Russia (3,960 rulings); and Article 20.25 (3) of the CoAF -- evasion of administrative expulsion (887 rulings).

Compared to the same period last year, when courts handed down 23,053 rulings for the same articles, there has been a 17.4% increase.

From June 3 to 9, courts reportedly issued 1,566 rulings for violations under Article 18.8, the highest weekly number for the year.  Comparable spikes in rulings occurred after the Crocus City Hall attack (March 25-31) and February 26 to March 3, with 1,442 and 1,430 rulings, respectively.

Other significant weekly increases from June 3 to 9 include: Article 18.10 of the CoAF -- 571 rulings; Article 20.25 (3) of the CoAF -- 199 rulings.

According to the Civic Assistance Committee, the vast majority of administrative expulsion decisions (96-99% from 2011 to 2022) are issued under Articles 18.8 and 18.10 of the CoAF.

From January to April this year, 100,000 activities were reportedly conducted to identify violations of migration legislation.  The Ministry of Internal Affairs reported over 676,000 protocols for administrative offenses against foreigners and stateless persons in the first quarter of this year, an 18.7% increase compared to the previous year.  Migration-related offenses reportedly accounted for 490,100 protocols, a 3.4% increase compared to the previous year.

In the first quarter, 38,540 decisions were made to remove foreigners from Russia (including administrative expulsion and deportation), a 28.5% increase compared to the same period last year.  Approximately 22,000 foreigners were actually removed from Russia in the first quarter, nearly double the number from the previous year (12,000).

On July 8, it was reported that the Ministry of Internal Affairs has drafted a bill proposing to expand the number of articles under which violators face expulsion.  Currently, administrative expulsion is a measure under 22 articles of the CoAF, including illegal drug trafficking and propaganda of non-traditional values.  The ministry reportedly proposes adding expulsion to 20 more articles, including petty hooliganism, public display of Nazi symbols, blocking transport communications, public calls for violating Russia's territorial integrity, and violations of the counter-terrorism operation regime.

According to the Judicial Department's statistics, administrative expulsion was ordered nearly 130,000 times in 2023 (with 129,100 as an additional penalty).  In 2022, expulsion was ordered 85,000 times (84,600 as an additional penalty).  Data for 2021 is unavailable due to a website error.  In 2020, expulsion was ordered 33,500 times (33,300 as an additional penalty).

The increasing number of rulings on migration-related offenses by Moscow courts reflects heightened enforcement and scrutiny of migration laws. This trend, alongside proposed legislative changes, indicates a continued focus on tightening migration control and increasing administrative measures against violations.