Russia Grants Police Power to Cancel Fake Residency Without Court Approval
Russia’s Interior Ministry (MVD) now has the power to deregister citizens without court approval in cases of fake registration. The new authority came into effect on May 1, 2026, following an official agency order. It targets those who exploit the system for sham addresses or formalities rather than genuine residency. The MVD gained this power through agency order No. 224, issued on April 20, 2026. Under the new rules, officials can independently cancel a registration if they confirm it was fraudulent. This includes cases where false documents were submitted, misleading information was provided, or someone was registered without any intention of offering housing.
Once a decision is made, property owners or tenants must be formally notified. The affected individual can also request a copy of the deregistration document in writing. The process has been streamlined, removing the need for a separate investigation in many cases. However, the changes do not affect people temporarily living away from their registered address. Instead, the focus remains on cracking down on so-called 'rubber apartments'—properties where multiple people are falsely registered for administrative convenience rather than actual residency.
The MVD’s updated procedure simplifies the deregistration of fraudulent cases. Property owners and tenants will receive official notice of any decision, while those impacted can obtain documentation upon request. The move aims to reduce sham registrations while leaving legitimate temporary absences unaffected.
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