Crackdown on Foreigners in Russia Intensifies After Deadly Moscow Attack

Since the attack on the Crocus center in the suburbs of Moscow, Russian police have been carrying out street sweeps and raids on dormitories for foreign students, as well as places where foreigners and minorities live. The searches, identity checks, and even detentions mainly target people of non-white races.

In the attack in Russia, which took place on March 22 this year, 143 people died. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for this deadly incident. The detainees, who were publically and brutally interrogated, are of Tajik origin.

Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine, the United States, and Great Britain of carrying out this act of terrorism. However, this claim reflects the Kremlin's point of view, which is aimed at the international community. The message for the domestic audience differs.

Domestically, this event has had significant repercussions for Russian immigrants and ethnic minorities, leading to increased repressions against foreigners and national minority representatives.

According to "Politico", law enforcement agencies have been engaged in a major operation since the end of March, conducting mass searches and arrests. So far, 466 individuals have been charged, mainly with immigration violations and illegal employment. Hundreds are pending deportation from Russia.

In response to Moscow's actions, the governments of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan - home to the largest communities of Russian migrants - have advised their citizens to avoid mass gatherings in Russia and to be cautious.

"The wave of xenophobia is very tangible for indigenous peoples. People are afraid to leave the house, they travel by cab, canceled all part-time jobs for the next week and sit at home, keep the phone always at hand," reported "Politico's" Victoria Maladayeva, president of the Foundation of Indigenous Peoples of Russia, that unites non-Slavic nations residing in Russia for centuries.

Russia is home to about 300 ethnic groups, including some minorities who are not white. Vladimir Putin officially acknowledges citizens from national groups such as Chechen, Mordovian, Bashkir, Dagestani, Ossetian, Tatar, and others as legitimate Russians. Nevertheless, there's a growing narrative about the threats posed by "foreigners" in the country.

This nationalist trend was already evident in previous years. The 2021 Russian census reveals that, over just a decade, the population of some nationalities decreased by up to three-quarters.

Residents of Russia from diverse backgrounds who have lived in the region for centuries, including Poles, have started to hide their identities or not admit them during censuses due to increasing social ostracism.