The repatriation framework has applied since 1 January 2024 for compatriots wishing to return to Russia under the State Programme for the Resettlement of Compatriots. According to the MVD, the change was introduced by Presidential Executive Order of Russia No. 872.
Presidential Executive Order of Russia No. 872 introduced the repatriation framework into the programme
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia (MVD), the federal agency that issued the statement, reported that Presidential Executive Order of Russia No. 872, the document that introduced the change, introduced the repatriation framework into the State Programme for Assisting the Voluntary Resettlement to the Russian Federation of Compatriots. The changes took effect on 1 January 2024.
According to the MVD, the framework is intended for compatriots who want to return to Russia. This means that repatriation is considered within the state resettlement programme, rather than as separate information about HR formalities or hiring.
Repatriates account for half of the programme’s applicants
According to the MVD, repatriates account for half of the persons who submitted applications to participate in the programme. The figure refers specifically to applications submitted to participate in the compatriot resettlement programme.
For an employer, this information may serve as a reference point when assessing the broader context of migration and resettlement processes. However, it does not establish personnel selection rules, grounds for hiring, or the procedure for checking a repatriate candidate.
Employers have not been assigned separate repatriation-related actions
The MVD did not specify separate employer obligations in connection with the operation of the repatriation framework. The agency’s statement also did not describe the procedure for employing repatriates or define the HR documents required for their formalization.
Therefore, HR services should not infer from a person’s participation in the programme alone any additional requirements for the employment contract, notifications, or internal HR process. The repatriate status and employment-related matters are not combined into a single procedure in the MVD’s statement.
The date 1 January 2024 confirms when the changes took effect
The confirmed date on which the changes took effect is 1 January 2024. According to the MVD’s statement, it may be used as the effective date of the repatriation framework in the State Programme for the Resettlement of Compatriots.
Apart from 1 January 2024, the MVD’s statement does not name any deadlines. It contains no information about sanctions or other consequences for employers, so HR decisions cannot be based on assumptions about such consequences.
HR records distinguish the fact of repatriation from employment formalities
An employer may record for internal reference that the repatriation framework has applied under the programme since 1 January 2024. According to the MVD’s statement, this change is intended for compatriots wishing to resettle in Russia.
At the same time, the fact that the framework applies does not replace the verification of documents required in a specific HR situation. The MVD’s statement does not establish which documents a repatriate must provide when taking up employment, so they should not be added to the existing HR document package without other grounds.
Frequently asked questions
When did the repatriation framework begin to apply under the resettlement programme?
According to the MVD, the repatriation framework began to apply on 1 January 2024. It was introduced by Presidential Executive Order of Russia No. 872.
Who is the repatriation framework intended for?
According to the MVD, it is intended for compatriots wishing to return to Russia under the State Programme for the Resettlement of Compatriots.
Does an employer need to change its HR process because of the repatriation framework?
The MVD did not specify any separate employer actions. The agency’s statement also did not describe the procedure for employing repatriates.
What to check
- Take into account the date on which the repatriation framework began to apply — 1 January 2024.
- Distinguish a compatriot’s participation in the resettlement programme from the procedure for employing that person.
- Do not add special requirements to HR documents solely because repatriation is mentioned.
- Do not treat the MVD’s statement as grounds for concluding that employers have new notification requirements.
- Do not infer sanctions for an employer from information about the repatriation framework.