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Guidance

Russia: country policy and information notes

Guidance used by UK Visas and Immigration to make decisions in asylum and human rights applications.

From:
UK Visas and Immigration
Published:
11 December 2020
Last updated:
12 August 2026 — See all updates

Documents

Country policy and information note: Military service, August 2026 (accessible)

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Country policy and information note: Military service, August 2026

PDF, 1.06 MB, 99 pages

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Country policy and information note: sexual orientation and gender identity and expression, June 2025 (accessible)

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Country policy and information note: sexual orientation and gender identity and expression, June 2025

PDF, 870 KB, 77 pages

Country policy and information note: critics and opponents of the government, Russia, August 2022 (accessible)

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Country policy and information note: critics and opponents of the government, Russia, August 2022

PDF, 865 KB, 68 pages

Details

Country policy and information notes (previously known as country information and guidance reports) are used by UK Visas and Immigration officials to make decisions in asylum and human rights applications.

The notes also give information on asylum seekers’ countries of origin.

If you need help with this content, please email cipu@homeoffice.gov.uk.

Updates to this page

Published 11 December 2020
Last updated 12 August 2026 Show all updates

  1. A new version of the country policy and information note on military service has been updated. The following sections have been updated: recruitment, deployment, and service conditions of Russian conscripts, reservists, contract soldiers, and mercenaries; deferral of and exemption from mandatory military service as well as alternative civilian service; punishments for draft evasion and desertion as well as on conditions in Russian penitentiary institutions.

  2. Information notes 'Muslims, Russia' and 'Critics of the state, Chechnya' removed.

  3. Added information on sexual orientation and gender identity and expression.

  4. The following country policy and information notes have been removed as they are out of date: sexual orientation and gender identity or expression, November 2020; Jehovah’s Witnesses, April 2021.

  5. Country policy and information note: military service has been added.

  6. Information on Muslims in Russia added.

  7. Added country policy and information note on Chechnya: critics of the state.

  8. Added country policy and information note: critics and opponents of the government, Russia, August 2022.

  9. Added country policy and information note on Jehovah’s Witnesses.

  10. First published.

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