Increase of migration to Russia poses threat - Federal Migration Service director
MOSCOW. Dec 6 (Interfax) - Federal Migration Service Director Konstantin Romodanovsky said the sharp increase in the number of foreigners coming to Russia is now posing a threat.
"The number of foreigners entering our country went up by 37% in the past four years. It's almost twice as many as the number of people who entered Russia in 2009," Romodanovsky said in a lecture delivered at Moscow State University on Friday.
"On one hand, it's reasonable to speak about economic growth in Russia, there is a demand for a foreign workforce. On the other hand, it's a challenge. The challenge is that the people who are coming are not quite the people we expect," Romodanovsky said.
On April 8, Federal Migration Service Deputy Director Anatoly Fomenko said the number of migrants had increased in Russia from the past years. There are currently some 10.5 million foreign citizens in Russia, of whom 2.5 million are citizens of Uzbekistan, 1.1 million are citizens of Tajikistan, over 500,000 are citizens of Kyrgyzstan, 1.3 million are citizens of Ukraine, and over 500,000 are citizens of Moldova, he said.
The Federal Migration Service advises foreigners who plan to visit Russia to check with the Federal Migration Service about whether or not they have any restrictions for entry into the Russian Federation.
"Almost 403,000 foreign citizens have now been denied entry into our country," Federal Migration Service press officer Zalina Kornilova told Interfax on Thursday.
Foreigners are subjected to entry restrictions if they have committed two or more violations in Russia or of they have overstayed their permitted time in Russia. Such restrictions are also imposed on foreigners who have been subjected to deportation or readmission, and foreigners who have used forged migration cards.