Three Cubans deported for being in Russia illegally.

Three Cuban migrants have been deported from the Russian region of Tver, in the upper Volga River area, in the west of the country. All entered Russia in 2021-2022 and had been living there illegally, as reported on August 30 by the newspaper www.abnews.ru.

The three detainees were found guilty of violating paragraph 1.1 of article 18.8 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation and were sentenced to pay a fine of 2,000 rubles (20 euros). None of them appealed the decision, and the sanctions were enforced.

Russian authorities are conducting raids in the Udomelsky municipal district in the Tver region and "forcibly" deporting Cubans who are residing illegally in this important industrial and transport hub of Russia.

At the beginning of this August, Putin signed a new immigration law that places greater control over foreign residents in Russia. The new regulation provides for the creation of a controlled persons register to be used by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Government. It is likely that Cubans in this country will be affected by this legislation, which outlines the obligations that foreigners must fulfill in order to reside in Russia.

The official version states that the law is enacted to pressure foreigners who are illegally staying in the country to regularize their immigration status. To do this, they must refrain from participating in activities that harm Russia, respect the Constitution and existing laws; as well as the environment, natural resources, material and cultural values, and the regional and ethnocultural diversity of the country.

It also requires respect for "Russian moral values"; not to promote homosexuality and to respect the history of the "Soviet people" in their struggle against fascism.

Deportations affect individuals who do not reside legally in the country, whether after the expiration of their temporary stay period or the expiration of immigration documents, the cancellation of the temporary stay permit, residency, or after committing a crime.

In addition, foreigners are restricted by this new regulation in their mobility throughout Russian territory or changing residence without permission from the Ministry of Internal Affairs. They will also not be able to marry, register as self-employed workers, open bank accounts, obtain loans, or make money transfers, except to purchase food products for a maximum amount of 30,000 rubles per month (approximately 350 dollars or 320 euros) and to buy tickets that allow them to leave the country.

The Russian police are authorized to enter homes and other establishments where they suspect that irregular migrants are located. Additionally, they will have the authority to deport foreign citizens without the need for a judicial process.

In April of this year, a group of Cubans was expelled from Russia following Putin's calls to contain illegal immigration in response to the terrorist attack near Moscow on March 22. Among them, a Cuban woman and her minor children were detained 3,600 meters from the state border of the Russian Federation and expelled. Around the same time, a Cuban tourist was detained in Ivanovo, and after confirming that he had violated the permitted stay period in the country, he was fined and expelled from Russia.