BBC News | EUROPE | Russia to crack down on foreigners

BBC News Online: World: Europe

Wednesday, 24 April, 2002, 16:15 GMT 17:15 UK

Russia to crack down on foreigners

Russia aims to automatically register all foreigners

Russian authorities are to start keeping tabs on all foreigners who settle in Russia in what they say is an attempt to identify illegal immigrants and tax dodgers.

" We are compelled to check all foreigners for justification as to why they are staying in our country "
Boris Gryzlov
Interior Minister

Interior Minister Boris Gryzlov told a migration conference that police would soon launch a nationwide sweep to track down illegal settlers and ensure legal residents were registered with the tax authorities.

He said he was also hoping to install an automatic registration system at all border crossing which would alert the authorities when a visa had expired.

Russian officials frequently complain that many foreigners living and working in the country do not have permits and do not pay taxes.

Concerns have also been expressed that lax border controls have facilitated the entry of foreign spies.

Bureaucratic obstacles

There are an estimated 1.5 million illegal immigrants in Russia, the vast majority of whom are believed to have entered after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 opened up its once tightly controlled borders.

On top of these immigrants, there are believed to be a significant number of legal foreign residents who have not registered with the tax authorities.

Many of the illegal immigrants come from the former Soviet states, as well as Vietnam, China and India.

Correspondents say many of them face significant bureaucratic hurdles when they do try to gain legal status in the country.

Related to this story:
Russia launches fast-track visas (01 Feb 02 | Europe)

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