At an extended meeting of the final board of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) on April 2, Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev announced that measures had been taken to remove individuals illegally residing in the country, resulting in the expulsion of almost 110,000 violators. President Vladimir Putin also participated in the meeting.
The minister reported a decrease in migrant-related crimes in 2023, with murders down by 18%, thefts by 14%, robberies by 32%, and armed robberies by 22%. Kolokoltsev emphasized the importance of foreign citizens respecting Russia's laws, cultural values, and moral standards.
He highlighted that 2,500 migrant-related crimes were solved last year using information systems. Innovative projects were launched in collaboration with the Ministry of Digital Development, including the development of a digital profile for foreign nationals to register before entering Russia, enhancing control over mandatory fingerprinting and photographing procedures, and adding 2 million data samples.
President Putin called for a fundamental overhaul of Russia's migration policy, aiming to restrict entry to those who respect the country's culture, history, language, and traditions. He stressed the need to prevent illegal migration, which fosters extremism and crime.
Putin emphasized the need for an objective and professional analysis of the recent terrorist attack at "Crocus City," urging authorities to identify all individuals involved in the crime. He warned against exploiting such tragedies to fuel nationalistic sentiments and division, emphasizing the importance of unity and security in Russia.
The President instructed the MVD and the Prosecutor General's Office to develop additional measures to enforce immigration laws, ensuring comprehensive control over the situation. The Ministry of Labor proposed limiting labor contracts with migrants to two years and implementing targeted recruitment of foreign workers, a proposal supported by the State Duma's relevant committee.
