Russia's Law on Refugees: Particularities, Historical Changes, and Limitations

The term 'refugee' has recently acquired paradoxical connotations, associated both with today's era of displacement as well as rising anti-immigrant sentiment. This article analyses the legal framework around refugees in Russia, the fourth-largest recipient of refugees in Europe in 2016. Focusing on the situation of Ukrainian refugees following the Ukrainian 2014 crisis, this article also places Russia's Law on Refugees in historical perspective, analysing its amendments and issues with its implementation. It demonstrates the unfortunate position of refugees within current Russian policy and makes the case for reforms needed to improve the refugee protection system.