Russia extends the term of temporary stay for migrants until September 30, if they committed no offences.

“Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree on regulation of the legal status of foreign nationals and stateless persons in the Russian Federation during the period of overcoming the consequences of the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19),” the Kremlin says in a statement released on June 15.  

This decision has reportedly been made in order to “ensure the sanitary and epidemiological well-being of the population and regulate the legal status of foreign nationals” falling under the above definition. 

The decree extends the term of temporary stay of migrants in the Russian Federation until September 30, 2021, if they did not committee offences.  

This decree does not apply to foreign nationals released from prison, violating the Russian Federation legislation on the state border or posing threat to national security.  

Earlier, this term was set on March 15 for the period until June 15 due the coronavirus crisis. 

Recall, a preferential treatment for foreigners was introduced by the decree signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in the midst of a pandemic and which has been repeatedly extended.   

Thousands have been stuck in Russia due to the travel restrictions under the COVID-19 pandemic.  Starting in mid-March 2020, the Russian authorities gradually shut down Russia’s borders, with each consecutive government decision announced on short notice.  They gradually introduced public measures to limit the spread of COVID-19 within the country, starting with isolating people returning from abroad and then introducing surveillance measures to ensure that people observe quarantine.