Freight drivers from Armenia, other EAEU countries face entry bans under Russia’s confusing new migration policy

Armenian freight transporters are encountering serious difficulties following changes in Russia’s migration policies. Numerous drivers have received notifications banning them from entering Russia for periods ranging from 3 to 10 years for violating the 90-day stay policy. 

Speaking at a press conference, Tatevik Bezhanyan, a migration program expert at Armenian Caritas, explained that under previous regulations, citizens of visa-free countries — including Armenia — were allowed to stay in Russia for up to 180 days within a one-year period.

However, recent changes in Russia have reduced that allowance to just 90 days, which Bezhanyan said is entirely insufficient for freight drivers who regularly work there.

“The territory of Russia is vast, and it’s not uncommon for freight drivers to cover long distances,” said Tatevik Bezhanyan. “On top of that, unloading cargo takes time, and then the trucks have to be reloaded with new goods. Drivers also often get stuck at the Lars border crossing for days or even weeks due to road closures or other delays. There are cases where trucks break down, forcing drivers to remain in Russia for several extra days. Because of all these factors, the 90-day limit is used up very quickly.”

Although the law officially took effect in January this year, authorities had shown what could be described as a lenient approach until recently. Since September, enforcement has become significantly stricter.

Bezhanyan pointed out that this has created a confusing and contradictory situation. “At the border, guards are still allowing Armenian citizens to enter Russia, even if they’ve exceeded the 90-day limit. But once inside the country, police are conducting strict checks and holding them accountable,” she said.

“Since September, I’ve personally received more than a dozen letters from freight drivers who have been banned from entering Russia,” said Tatevik Bezhanyan. “According to the law, if a person stays in the country from 90 to 180 days, the entry ban should be for three years. Despite that, we’ve seen cases where drivers fell within that range, but were still handed five-year bans.”

The expert emphasized that this issue doesn’t apply only to Armenia but affects all countries that have a visa-free regime with Russia — including members of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).

As a possible solution, she proposed legislative changes in Russia to clearly exempt certain professional groups from the 90-day rule. “Today we’re talking about freight drivers because they are facing the brunt of this issue, but the same 90-day restriction also applies to passenger transport drivers, pilots, and flight attendants,” she noted.

Given that citizens of other EAEU countries are also affected, Bezhanyan believes that efforts to resolve the issue may be more effective if pursued collectively through the relevant EAEU commission.