First and foremost, it is a decision made by a state authority. The Russian government has granted this power to several agencies: the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD Russia), the Federal Security Service (FSB Russia), the Ministry of Defense, the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR Russia), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MID Russia), the Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN Russia), and the Federal Customs Service (FTS Russia). This list is current as of the book’s publication and may change. Memorizing it is unnecessary—it is provided for reference only.
In the overwhelming majority of cases, entry denials to Russia are issued by MVD Russia. For simplicity, I will colloquially refer to such decisions as an "entry ban," as this term is easier to understand. Previously, there was an agency called the Federal Migration Service (FMS Russia). It no longer exists, and its functions are now performed by the Migration Departments (Units) of MVD Russia.
An entry ban to Russia is not tied to a court. This is its key distinction from, for example, administrative expulsion, which always involves a court—except in one specific case at the border, where expulsion may be ordered by a border checkpoint chief. However, due to the rarity of this exception, it can be disregarded in most practical situations.
An entry ban to Russia indicates that you have violated—or the state, through the relevant authority, believes you have violated—Russian law while on its territory. The specifics of what can be violated are outlined in Articles 26 and 27 of Federal Law No. 114-FZ dated August 15, 1996, “On the Procedure for Exit from and Entry into the Russian Federation.” Listing these provisions here is pointless, as they can always be read directly in the law, and they are subject to change. Certain provisions may lose force, and new ones may appear. What matters here is this: if you violated something under Article 26, the state may impose an entry ban, whereas violations under Article 27 require the state to impose an entry ban. This leads to a straightforward conclusion: violations under Article 26 are less severe and, therefore, easier to overturn. But more on that later.
In Russia, a migration history is maintained for every foreign citizen or stateless individual. This history exists as an electronic database called the Central Database for Foreign Nationals (CBD UIG). Previously managed by the Federal Migration Service (FMS), the database is now maintained by the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) following the FMS’s dissolution. It contains information about all your entry and exit dates, migration registration, work patents, temporary residence permits (TRP), residence permits (RP), and other relevant details. Decisions to impose an entry ban to Russia are based on data from this database.
Technically, an entry ban decision is an official order by a state authority to add your details to a control list. To justify the decision, an extract from the aforementioned database is attached. The decision is then approved by the head or deputy of the territorial MVD unit, and the information is entered into the Central Database for Foreign Nationals (CBD UIG). From this moment onward, you cannot legally enter Russia, as border services will detect the ban and turn you back.
Do not assume that if you once violated the rules and entered Russia without issues, there will be no consequences. Trust me, there will be. It may not happen immediately—bureaucracy still thrives even in the age of IT—but it will. When it does, it may come as a shock. Typically, a formal notice will be issued at the border crossing point.
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