Russia plans mass deportations of Ukrainians from occupied territories in March – human rights group

From March 2024, the Russians are planning the first mass deportations of Ukrainian citizens from the occupied territories.

Pavlo Lysianskyi, the founder of the Eastern Human Rights Group, announced this on Facebook, citing sources, Rubryka reports.

He said several sanctions were introduced for those who refused to get a Russian passport.

"If a citizen of Ukraine under occupation has not received a Russian passport, then within 90 days, they must register with the mandatory fingerprinting and photographing procedure," Lysiansky said. "If a person refuses the fingerprinting and photographing procedure, the Ukrainian citizen is subject to administrative liability, which consists of a fine of 2,000 rubles for individuals and 400,000 for legal entities if the campaign hired a person without a Russian passport." 

One of the punishments is also the deportation of a citizen of Ukraine with a ban on entry for five years. 

Moreover, from January 1, 2024, all citizens of Ukraine in the temporarily occupied territories will be required to issue a patent or work permit. Otherwise, the employer who employs a citizen of Ukraine is subject to Russian sanctions.

For violations, the Russian-appointed occupation authorities may impose an administrative fine for citizens (from 2,000 to 5,000 rubles), for officials (from 25,000 to 50,000 rubles), legal entities (from 250,000 to 800,000 rubles), or administrative suspension of activity for up to 90 days.

Background

In April, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree allowing the deportation of residents of the occupied territories of Ukraine who have not taken Russian citizenship.

The document was published on the official portal of legal information of the Russian Federation. 

The decree stipulates that citizens of Ukraine or holders of "passports" of the Russian puppet republics, "DNR" and "LNR," must either become Russian citizens or declare that they do not wish to do so. Those who choose the second option will be considered foreigners from July 1, 2024, and may be deported.

A separate clause of the decree refers to the deportation of those who pose a threat to the "national security of Russia."

Residents of occupied Ukrainian territories who advocate "forcible change of the foundations of the constitutional order" in Russia, finance terrorist and extremist activities, or participate in "unsanctioned" actions will be deported and banned from entering the Russian Federation.

Rubryka reported that in March this year, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, and the Children's Ombudsman, Maria Lvova-Belova, who are suspected of illegally deporting children from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine to Russia since at least February 2022.