Refugees and migrants in Russia

Draft. Compiled from human rights groups' guides but not yet reviewed by a lawyer. This is not legal advice — check the linked sources and consult a lawyer.

• If police take you to the enlistment office during a raid, ask for a summons for another date and note officers' names. Film only if it will not lead to being detained by force: for people without Russian citizenship a clash with police can lead to expulsion. Running or using force is risky, as these are separate offences.
• A Defence Ministry contract is voluntary only and effectively open-ended. Promises of citizenship, benefits or 'rear' duty are often broken; there is no legal basis for demanding a contract in exchange for documents.
• People with acquired Russian citizenship must register for military service and are threatened with losing citizenship. How to register without being drafted — see Call to Conscience's guide (also in Kyrgyz and Uzbek).
• If your stay has expired you're put on the register of controlled persons: no bank accounts, driving, marriage, deals or moving home. You come off it by regularising status or leaving.
• Where to turn: Civic Assistance Committee — refugee status and appeals; Call to Conscience — raids and recruitment.

current as of September 25. More: Call to Conscience: for migrants; First Department: the register of controlled persons (foreign agent)

Draft. Compiled from human rights groups' guides but not yet reviewed by a lawyer. This is not legal advice — check the linked sources and consult a lawyer.

• Helping to Leave volunteers help people leave occupied territories, or Russia where they were taken against their will, for free: bot @helpingtoleave_bot, hotline +380 93 177 64 58. A call to a Ukrainian number from a Russian SIM card stays in the operator's records.
• Exit checks can be harsh: human rights groups advise removing photos and chats linked to the army or Ukrainian symbols from your phone beforehand and not carrying extra devices.
• For Ukrainians staying in Russia, the Civic Assistance Committee helps with documents, refugee status and temporary asylum.
• Russians who want to help Ukrainian prisoners of war or detainees: the prison service sees letters and transfers. Any financial help linked to Ukraine, including help to prisoners of war, can be treated as high treason (art. 275 CC, up to life imprisonment). Talk to First Department before any transfer. Sign letters with your own name and write only about everyday things. Don't send money to people on the 'terrorist' list.
• Crimea: the Crimean Human Rights Group and the Crimean Tatar Resource Centre track political prisoners — links in the Political prisoners section.

current as of September 25. More: Helping to Leave; First Department: I want to help Ukrainian POWs (foreign agent)