Russia is intensifying its anti-migrant policy, using public demand as a pretext—80% of Russians believe there are too many migrants in their regions, as reported by the Ukrainian Foreign Intelligence Service.
The nationwide information campaign against migrants serves as a way for the government to consolidate society around addressing internal issues and distract from the war against Ukraine.
"From January to October 2024, Russia conducted 247.5 thousand checks on compliance with migration laws. The number of violations identified increased by 77.4% compared to the same period in 2023, while the number of administrative offense protocols rose by 50.4%. The number of decisions to expel foreigners increased by 47.3% compared to 2023," the statement reads.
Temporary residence permits were issued 48.1% less, while residence permits dropped by 19.7%. There was a 2.5-fold increase in the number of "crimes" related to illegal migration.
Over 1,300 individuals were stripped of Russian citizenship. Meanwhile, the number of labor contracts with foreigners allowing them to stay in Russia rose by 48%.
