Russian authorities expelled two Cuban citizens who had served prison sentences for serious crimes and prohibited them from returning to the country for an extended period.
The expulsion took place on August 18, when both were transported to an airport in Moscow for their return to Cuba, according to the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Mordovia.
The men, born in 1997 and 1987, had completed their respective sentences in facilities of the Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) of Russia.
One was convicted of violent sexual acts, a crime outlined in Article 132 of the Russian Penal Code. The other served time for aggravated illegal possession of narcotics, in accordance with Article 228.
After being released from prison, the authorities declared their presence in Russia legally "undesirable" and detained them in a temporary detention center for foreigners while arrangements were made for their expulsion.
Once outside Russian territory, both were subject to a re-entry ban "for an extended period," although the Ministry of Interior did not specify how many years.
The case is different from many of the deportations of Cubans recently recorded in Russia, which are primarily related to immigration violations, such as staying in the country irregularly or working without authorization. On this occasion, the two individuals who were expelled had previously served prison sentences.
The measure comes amid a tightening of Russia's immigration policy. In July 2026, Russia approved new residency rules for immigrants that require unemployed foreigners or those with insufficient income to leave the country within 15 days or face deportation.
In August, it also became known that some Cubans were being expelled to third countries due to the difficulties in arranging their direct repatriation to the island.
Criminal proceedings against Cuban citizens are not unprecedented either. Last February, a young Cuban was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison in Volgograd for attempted illegal drug distribution within an organized group.
Operations against Cuban migrants have multiplied in various regions of Russia over the past few years. In May 2025, for example, 17 Cubans detained in Krasnodar were deported for illegal residency in the country.
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