Kadyrov Calls to End the ‘Indiscriminate Inquisition’ Against Migrants

On 1 October, the State Duma considered two key initiatives to combat illegal migration, including measures targeting fictitious marriages and amendments allowing the confiscation of criminally acquired property from organisers of illegal migration. In response, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov criticised the recent tightening of migration policies, calling for a more balanced approach and condemning the indiscriminate targeting of foreigners. This article was first published by Kommersant on 7 October 2024 and has been translated into English by AbkhazWorld.

Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has expressed disappointment over a series of recent measures aimed at tightening migration policies in Russia. He urged that authorities should refrain from indiscriminately targeting non-locals and instead establish a proper system for migration control, avoiding what he described as a 'chaotic inquisition' against foreigners.

“If migration policies are to be changed, it should not be done in such a repugnant manner, where there is a frenzy to clamp down on all non-locals who happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Detentions are carried out without ceremony, and recently these operations have been conducted with excessive force,” the regional leader wrote on his Telegram channel.

Kadyrov noted that among migrants, there are many law-abiding individuals, significantly more than those who violate laws. "I urge an end to these medieval approaches and call for a targeted resolution to the issue," he added.

Russia's government decided to tighten migration laws following the terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall, during which four Tajik nationals opened fire and set the building ablaze. The attack claimed the lives of 145 people, with over 500 injured. At the time, Kadyrov warned against 'civil persecution based on nationality or religion.'

Currently, several draft laws aimed at amending Russia’s migration policy are under consideration by the State Duma. According to these bills, organising illegal migration could be classified as a particularly serious crime, while illegal residence in the country may become an aggravating factor when issuing sentences. State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin has named the tightening of migration laws as a priority for this parliamentary session. Alexander Gorovoy, Deputy Interior Minister, told Kommersant that authorities are also developing a registry of monitored individuals, which will include foreigners residing illegally in Russia.

Kadyrov believes that "some are deliberately trying to pit Russia against its neighbouring fraternal regions." He argued that the migration issue cannot be solved through mass deportations of foreign nationals. He placed responsibility for the problems in the migration sphere on those who "were supposed to handle these matters but failed to provide adequate oversight."

In Kadyrov’s view, fuelling hatred against migrants will not yield any positive outcomes. Instead, he called for the establishment of an effective control system in this area. “But under no circumstances should there be an indiscriminate inquisition against citizens of other countries. We must address the root causes rather than dealing with their consequences,” he wrote.