According to authorities, about twice as many migrants were deported in Russia last year as the year before. And this despite the fact that the Kremlin is increasingly lacking men for the bloody war in Ukraine.
“More than 80,000 migrants and stateless people have been expelled from Russia by court order,” state news agency TASS reported on Wednesday, citing the Russian bailiff. In 2023 there were approximately 44,200.
No information was given about the nationalities of the people. However, the vast majority of migrants in Russia come from former Soviet republics in Central Asia, such as Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Every year hundreds of thousands of them come to Russia to work.
Following a deadly attack on an event hall near Moscow last March, Russian authorities have stepped up their crackdown on migrants. More than 140 people were killed in the attack, for which the Islamic State (IS) jihadist militia claimed responsibility. As a result, four suspected perpetrators from Tajikistan were arrested.
Balancing act on immigration policy
Since then, anti-migrant sentiment has also worsened in Russian politics: for example, former President Dmitry Medvedev called for the creation of “ethnic enclaves”, while several parliamentarians proposed deporting migrants without knowledge of Russian. Deported people are banned from entering Russia for five years.
In mid-September, Russian State Duma President Vyacheslav Volodin said 34 laws would be examined to tighten migration policies, including a ban on family reunification, a list of banned professions and the introduction of a tax on migrants.
However, given demographic changes, Russia urgently needs workers for its economy. Men are also needed for the fight in Ukraine. Therefore, even access to citizenship was made easier.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
