Kompas Safety RUEN

← All situations

Refugees and migrants in Russia

The guides below are drafts: a lawyer has not reviewed them yet. This is not legal advice.

Draft What human rights defenders advise

Migrants in Russia: raids, recruitment, documents

  • 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 25 September 2026. More: Call to Conscience: for migrants; First Department: the register of controlled persons (foreign agent)

Whom to contact

2 organisations

Call to Conscience

Helps people refuse military service: advice for conscripts, mobilised soldiers, contract soldiers and their families, court defence, conscientious objection.

The only official bot is @agsnowarbot. It never asks for money or SMS codes.

Other ways to reach them: Delta Chat · agsnowar@gmail.com · website

online contact matched to the organisation's site 26 September 2026
Message the bot @agsnowarbot

Civic Assistance Committee

Free help for refugees and migrants: refugee status, appeals against refusals, labour disputes.

in Russia foreign agent contact matched to the organisation's site 26 September 2026
Get in touch refugee.ru

What next

Need a lawyer

In Russia, First Department and Solidarity Zone find lawyers. Lawyers abroad known for defending political cases: list of lawyers →

Exit