In December 2020, the Russian government issued a presidential decree extending several COVID-19-related measures affecting foreigners in the country. Measures, which were extended until 15 June 2021, include the suspension of forced expulsions and deportations, as well as the suspension of cancellations of refugee status, visas, work permits, residence permits, and other documents. Certain people are exempt from these measures, including those who disturb public order and security (including people who participate in non-sanctioned rallies and meetings, and those who support extremist activities). Reports suggest that “public danger” and extremism can be broadly interpreted in Russia, leaving large numbers of people vulnerable to deportation despite the COVID-19 measures. In mid-February 2021, 118 people were being held in the Saint Petersburg Detention Centre, awaiting removal.
After 90 days from the date of this decree, the above-mentioned suspensions will also not apply to people from states that, as of 15 December, have reopened traffic links with Russia. As a result, observers predict an increase in expulsions from 15 March onwards.
Russia has reportedly used immigration detention centres to confine people who are not migrants or asylum seekers – including Russian citizens protesting the treatment of Alexei Navalny. With so many protesters in custody, authorities could not find sufficient places within Moscow prisons. Thus, many were placed in immigration detention centres (Centers for the Temporary Detention of Foreign Nationals). At least two facilities appear to have been used for this purpose: the Sakharovo Centre (southern Moscow suburbs), and the facility in Yegoryevsk (to the south-east of Moscow).
Footage from inside the Sakharovo facility, coupled with recent detainee testimonies, have renewed concerns about conditions inside Russia’s immigration detention system and have prompted debates regarding migrants rights in the country. One detainee, the editor-in-chief of the independent news outlet Mediazona, described conditions in the centre as “hellish.”
Detainees were confined in rooms with iron beds but no mattresses; there were complaints about inadequate food provisions and drinking water; rooms appeared to be dirty and rarely cleaned; and cells were reportedly excessively hot in the day and cold at night.
A particularly contentious issue were sanitary facilities, with detainees forced to use squat toilets separated from their living area by a small, waist-high wall. Campaigners have for many years called on Russian authorities to remove squat toilets from detention facilities and ensure proper privacy is provided, and while most Moscow remand facilities are now equipped with adequate toilet stalls, updates to toilets do not appear to have been made in migrant facilities.
After detainees protested the poor detention conditions–and at least one detainee reportedly went on a hunger strike–conditions have reportedly improved, with detainees provided with mattresses, improved food supplies, and some hygiene items. Discussing the conditions in the centres, Sergey Abashin (Professor of Anthropology at the European University at Saint Petersburg) argued that many of the practices first used on migrants are soon often carried over to Russian citizens. “It’s all very simple: there can be no human rights and the rule of law of even a single group is taken out, first with common consent, outside of these rights and laws, sooner or later these exceptions are extended to everyone else.”
- President of the Russian Federation, “Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of December 15, 2020 No. 791 “On the extension of temporary measures to resolve the legal status of foreign citizens and stateless persons in the Russian Federation in connection with the threat of the further spread of the new coronavirus infection (COVID-19),” 15 December 2021, http://publication.pravo.gov.ru/Document/View/0001202012170001
- Kommersant, “Москвичей приравняли к депортированным иностранцам,” 3 February 2021, https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/4672754#id2008762
- M. Litvinovich, “Human Rights Monitors Report Protest at Special Detention Center Where Navalny Supporters are Being Held,” Meduza, 5 February 2021, https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/02/05/human-rights-monitors-report-protest-at-special-detention-center-where-navalny-supporters-are-being-held
- Meduza, “Nothing Special About It: Take a Look Inside the ‘Special’ Detention Centre Where Arrested Pro-Navalny Protesters are Being Held,” 4 February 2021, https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/02/04/nothing-special-about-it
- A. Roth, “Russian Pro-Navalny Detainees and Relatives Denounce Jail Conditions,” The Guardian, 4 February 2021, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/04/russian-pro-navalny-detainees-and-relatives-denounce-jail-conditions
- Meduza, “Why are the Toilets in Russian Jails Such Shit?” 11 February 2021, https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/02/11/why-are-the-toilets-in-russian-jails-such-shit
- V. Ratnikova, “Забросили в камеру прямо в наручниках за спиной»: что изменилось в Сахарово за последнюю неделю,” Dozhd, 12 February 2021, https://tvrain.ru/teleshow/fishman_vechernee_shou/chto_izmenilos_v_saharovo_za_poslednjuju_nedelju-524551/
- S. Abashin, “Facebook Post,” 2 February 2021, https://www.facebook.com/sergey.abashin/posts/2138288276301800
- 28 Pro Navalny Protestors Held in a Cell Meant for 8 People in Sakhrovo Detention Centre, (Protestny MGU, “Nothing Special About It: Take a Look Inside the ‘Special’ Detention Center Where Arrested Pro-Navalny Protesters are Being Held,” Meduza, 4 February 2021, https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/02/04/nothing-special-about-it)
