Russia tightens grip on immigrants to bolster military ranks

Since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine, Russia has intensified actions against immigrant communities. The latest example is a bill that stripped citizenship to avoid military service.

According to British intelligence services, on July 31, the State Duma, the lower house of the Russian Parliament, approved a bill that strips citizenship from naturalized citizens if they do not register for military service.

The bill's co-author is the Speaker of the Duma, Vyacheslav Volodin, which, according to the British Ministry of Defense, indicates that it has the Kremlin's approval.

It is assessed that the law's practical consequences for recruitment into the Russian armed forces will likely be limited. However, independent Russian media continue to report on security agencies' harassment of immigrant communities to increase recruitment, among other things. This law will provide another means of pressure in this matter.

"This law should also be seen in the context of intensified anti-immigrant sentiments fueled by some members of the Russian government, particularly targeting people of Central Asian origin. These sentiments and rhetoric have significantly strengthened since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, likely as part of attempts to establish additional government legitimacy in the face of high casualties and decreasing living standards," it was written.