Russia Highlights Need for Changes in Migration Policy

The migration policy of Russia requires changes, stated Alexander Bastrykin, the head of the Investigative Committee of Russia, during the St. Petersburg International Legal Forum.

“I believe it is crucial to change Russia’s migration policy, to substantiate the need for it, and perhaps even to ensure that internal resources address their political, economic, national, and other issues,” Bastrykin's words are quoted by RIA Novosti.

During the forum, Bastrykin also mentioned the number of detained migrants who have received Russian citizenship and do not wish to register for military service. According to him, during verification visits, more than 30,000 individuals have been detained, including nearly 10,000 migrants who have become participants in military operations in Ukraine.

The head of the Investigative Committee noted that the exact number of foreigners in Russia remains unknown. At the same time, the number of serious crimes committed by migrants in Russia has increased by 32% in 2023, with particularly serious crimes rising by 26%, and extremist-related crimes increasing by 147%, including those related to illegal drug trafficking, which grew by 27%.