Check yourself in wanted, foreign-agent, and risk registries via Wanted Radar
Wanted Radar is a search tool for the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) wanted list database, compiled from Mediazona’s open data, and a navigator for other Russian risk registries: the Ministry of Justice’s foreign agents registry, Rosfinmonitoring’s list of terrorists and extremists, and the electronic draft summons registry. One search query shows whether a full name appears in public lists used for state pressure.
The service is for people who want to check themselves or relatives before traveling to Russia, assess risks for family members who remain in the country, or simply understand how the registries work that are often written about but rarely explained. Wanted Radar does not give legal advice and does not make evaluative conclusions — it shows data and explains what it means.
Below is a short overview of how to use the search, what registries exist, and how to read the results so that you do not confuse a namesake with an actual person involved in a case.
In short
- Wanted Radar searches the MVD wanted list database (source: Mediazona’s open data).
- The main fields in a wanted card are full name, date of birth, and Criminal Code article.
- Russia also has several other risk registries: foreign agents, terrorists and extremists, undesirable organizations, and the draft summons registry.
- A full-name match does not yet mean “you are wanted”: people with the same surname and given name are common, and the check is done by date of birth.
- Databases are periodically reloaded: a card may disappear from public search results, but the case is not closed because of that.
What registries exist and who maintains them
Several lists operate in parallel in Russia. Each is maintained by a separate agency, on its own legal grounds and with its own consequences.
MVD wanted list database
A list of people put on the federal and interstate wanted lists. It is maintained by the MVD and published fragmentarily on the agency’s portal. Mediazona has collected and regularly updates a machine-readable copy — Wanted Radar works on this basis. A card contains the person’s full name, date of birth, and the Criminal Code article under which they have been put on the wanted list.
Foreign agents registry
Maintained by the Ministry of Justice. It includes individuals, media outlets, NGOs, and unregistered associations. The consequences are labeling requirements for materials, professional restrictions, and financial reporting. The registry is published on minjust.gov.ru.
List of terrorists and extremists
Maintained by Rosfinmonitoring. Inclusion leads to the blocking of bank accounts and restrictions on financial transactions. The list is published on fedsfm.ru.
Registry of undesirable organizations
Maintained by the Prosecutor General’s Office. Participation in the activities of an “undesirable” organization is a separate offense under the Code of Administrative Offenses and the Criminal Code. The list is published on the agency’s website.
Electronic draft summons registry
Maintained by the Ministry of Digital Development on the Gosuslugi (Госуслуги) platform. From the moment a summons appears in the registry, restrictions take effect — a ban on leaving the country, restrictions on transactions, and restrictions on driver’s licenses.
What appearance in each registry means
| Registry | What it means | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| MVD wanted list database | A case has been opened, and a wanted notice has been issued (often in absentia) | Full name + date of birth + Criminal Code article in the card |
| Ministry of Justice foreign agents | Labeling of materials, reporting, work-related restrictions | Date of inclusion and wording of the grounds |
| Rosfinmonitoring terrorists and extremists | Blocking of accounts, restriction of transactions | Full-name match + date of birth + grounds |
| Undesirable organizations | Participation is a separate offense under the Code of Administrative Offenses and the Criminal Code | Exact name of the organization in the registry |
| Draft summons registry | Ban on leaving the country, restrictions on transactions | Personal account on Gosuslugi |
How to check right now
On the Wanted Radar home page, there is a field for searching the MVD wanted list database. Enter a full name (partial input is possible) and, if needed, specify the date of birth. The service will show all matches with the Criminal Code article and the date the card was added.
For the other registries, checks are done on agency websites: the Ministry of Justice for foreign agents, Rosfinmonitoring for the list of terrorists and extremists, and Gosuslugi for the draft summons registry. Wanted Radar provides explanations and context, but direct searches in these registries are handled by the primary sources.
Warning signs vs false alarm
A warning sign is an exact match of full name and date of birth with a wanted card, especially if the Criminal Code article belongs to the category of political persecution (275, 280.3, 207.3, 282.2). This is a reason to contact a lawyer before any trips or contact with state authorities.
A false alarm is a match only by full name, without a date-of-birth match. In Russia, millions of people share the same initials, and databases regularly contain namesakes. A card without a date of birth is a reason to clarify the situation through a lawyer, but not a reason to panic.
What to do next
- Save the search result (a screenshot with the date), especially if you plan to consult a lawyer.
- If the full name and date of birth match, contact a lawyer; do not try to clarify your status by calling the MVD.
- Also check the foreign agents registry on minjust.gov.ru and the list of terrorists and extremists on fedsfm.ru.
- For relatives in Russia, check Gosuslugi for an electronic summons and restrictions.
- Subscribe to updates from Mediazona and OVD-Info to see additions to the wanted list database.
- Repeat the check periodically: registries are updated, and inclusion can happen retroactively.
Disclaimer: this material is informational and is not legal advice. For a specific situation, contact a lawyer. Information in the registries is updated retroactively and may differ from the current situation.
Conclusion
Wanted Radar provides an entry point into the system of Russian risk registries: one search in the MVD wanted list database and clear navigation through the other lists. The service does not make conclusions for the user — it shows data and explains how to read it, so that decisions are based on facts, not guesses.