On April 14, 2025 a new draft package of legislative amendments has been submitted to Parliament, proposing mainly tighter regulations concerning foreign citizens and alien individuals. The amendments introduce expulsion and entry bans as additional sanctions under both administrative and criminal offenses.
Under the proposed changes, foreign nationals may face expulsion and a ban on re-entry for up to five years as an administrative measure for specific offenses. These include: petty hooliganism (Article 166), disobedience to law enforcement or other authorized officials (Article 173), verbal insult of a public or political figure (Article 173¹⁶), repeated violations of the rules governing public assemblies or demonstrations (Article 174¹), and other specified cases.
In terms of criminal offenses, courts will have the discretion to impose expulsion and entry bans as supplementary penalties. For less serious crimes, the ban may range from two to ten years. For serious and especially serious crimes, the term may range from five to twenty years, or even result in a lifetime ban.
The draft legislation outlines the procedural framework for expulsion proceedings. These include the most Importantly the right to a lawyer during the process, requirements for electronic communication of official decisions, appeal procedures, the potential issuance of a one-year temporary residence permit under special circumstances, and administrative protocols for voluntary departure. It also introduces measures to assess abscond risk during proceedings.
Additionally, courts may order alternative measures, such as placement in a temporary accommodation center, either on their own initiative or at the request of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, when detention is not deemed necessary.
Expulsion decisions will be made by the court based on applications submitted by the relevant administrative body.
The draft amendments are currently under parliamentary review, with adoption anticipated in due course.
For detailed and accurate information regarding specific situations, please consult a qualified legal professional