Russian Police record requirement

[Jetson 0]

From the horse's mouth and applies to anyone requiring a Russian police clearance.

Short story: My lady is from Moldova and her interview is to be in Bucharest. Having lived in Russia, she is required to produce a Russian police clearance. She went to the Moldovan Ministry of Internal Affairs to get her Moldovan clearance and at the same time have them contact their counterpart in Russia to also attain her record from there. This was possible electronically within a few days. The Moldovan Ministry then issued two certificates, stating her clear record for both the countries of Moldova and Russia.

Fast forward to Bucharest-US Embassy: They requested in a letter my lady produce a Russian clearance. We email them (for their approval) our copies of the documents issued by Ministry . They do not accept this type of clearance. They were very nice and gave us a copy of the requirement and process for the clearance to be valid. Some of the additional info may be of interest to you. Attached is a copy of this:

POLICE AND PRISON RECORDS

Available. Russian law (MVD Order no. 965, dated November 1, 2001) mandates

that the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) provide police certificates both

to Russian citizens and to foreigners who have lived or are living in

Russia. The law states that in Russia, MVD offices must provide the

certificate within 30 days. Those residing outside of Russia, both Russian

citizens and non-citizens, may either delegate a Power-of-Attorney to apply

for the certificate on their behalf in Russia, or apply directly to the

Russian Consulate. Police certificates should note all names that the

person has used in Russia, and should note the MVD branches in all locations

that were queried.

Federal and more serious criminal records in Russia are kept at the Main

Information Center (MIC), while convictions related to minor offenses

(interpreted as when the punishment was to to 3 years of imprisonment) are

stored in the local police (militia) archives. Court records are generally

available upon a request from the individual. Prison records are generally

not available.

Under Russian law, a prior conviction is expunged from the MIC's databank

after a specified period of time has passed following the completion of the

sentence. For "grave" crimes the period is six years; for "especially

grave" crimes it is eight years. Thus, if an applicant committed a grave

crime and more than six years have passed since the completion of his/her

sentence, the MIC will not show a record of this crime.

In the absence of a Russian police certificate, and when dealing with

applicants who could have theoretically served prison time more than eight

years prior to the date of IV application, key features to look for are

knuckle tattoos. Russian prison culture is vibrant and unique to itself;

tattoos serve a role of establishing rank and status, and it is quite common

for males to have served time in prison to have such markings.