Foreign nationals working in Russia must be tested every 3 months for illnesses such as syphilis and leprosy, as well as drugs, beginning in 2022. Foreign business associations have petitioned Moscow to change the rules.
There has rarely been such outrage among Russian expats. Foreigners will be subjected to extensive medical checks, according to a legal amendment made public just last week. The amendment was approved by Russia’s parliament in late June, nearly six months ago, and is set to go into effect on December 29, 2021.
Foreigners in Russia protest new medical exams
According to the amendment, foreign employees, their friends and relatives living in Russia, and any expatriates who wish to stay in the country for an extended period of time must be tested for infectious and contagious diseases such as syphilis, HIV, leprosy, tuberculosis, and COVID-19 every three months. They must also submit fingerprints and a biometric photo to the authorities, as well as take a drug test.
All children over the age of six will be subject to the new rules as well. If a person tests positive for any of the diseases listed above, they will be denied a visa, and any existing visa will be terminated. They will be labeled “unwanted” and ordered to leave the country. When applying for a work or residence permit in Russia for more than 90 days, foreigners must already present a negative HIV test.
The Russian government has not stated what it hopes to accomplish with the new regulations. However, according to the letter supporting the draft law, the 2.5 million citizens of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, and Uzbekistan in Russia represent a majority of foreigners and are only forced to submit to medical tests at random. As a result, there is a risk of “infiltration and spread of dangerous infectious diseases in Russia,” according to the letter.
