In Russia, Cubans and their relatives fighting on the side of the Russian Federation are massively fined as illegal immigrants. Even those who come to bury those killed in the war are punished, UNN reports with reference to the Russian Telegram channel Verstka.
Details
Since 2023, Russian courts have begun to massively fine Cuban citizens who fought in the Russian army and their relatives for violating the regime of stay in Russia (Article 18.8 of the Code of Administrative Offenses). "Verstka" found more than 180 such decisions in court databases.
This refers to exceeding the period of stay in Russia without a visa (for Cubans, it is 90 days within 180 days). At the same time, courts in such cases raise the issue of expelling a foreigner, but, given the special circumstances, they limit themselves to fines of two to 40 thousand rubles.
Among the 18 fined persons, 18 were direct participants in the war. Other defendants in the cases were their wives, parents, children, brothers and sisters, and in two cases, cohabitants of military personnel. At least six fined Cuban citizens explained that they came to Russia to bury relatives killed in the war, but this did not save them from punishment.
One of those fined even spoke about the problem on social networks, but immediately called for "thanking the Russian authorities" for at least not expelling her compatriots from the country. She herself eventually managed to obtain a Russian passport.