Russia is preparing a bill on fingerprinting of foreigners upon entry into the country

In Russia, a legislative initiative is being developed that will oblige foreign citizens arriving in the country to undergo mandatory fingerprinting and identification procedures. This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs TASS. From 2021, migrant workers are required to undergo fingerprint registration and photographing within one to three months.

“The procedure for fingerprint registration of foreign citizens upon entry into the Russian Federation and their identification upon entry and exit from the Russian Federation is provided for in the draft comprehensive bill “On the conditions of entry into the Russian Federation and departure from the Russian Federation of foreign citizens and stateless persons, as well as the conditions of their stay and residence in territory of the Russian Federation,” which is currently under development,” the department reported.

According to the bill, if technically possible, FSB border service officers will carry out fingerprinting, photography or identification in real time. The data will be transferred to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. These actions will help identify migrants whose entry into Russia has been restricted, as well as foreign citizens who are on the federal or international wanted list.

The head of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for Migration, Valentina Kazakova, noted that foreigners entering Russia already undergo the mandatory procedure of fingerprinting, photography and medical examination. November 4, Mrs. Kazakova statedthat fingerprinting and photographing procedures for foreign citizens will begin in the near future at Moscow airports. According to the head of the department, there are about 6.5 million foreigners in Russia. 4 million of them underwent fingerprinting. As a result of “such total fingerprinting,” more than 2 thousand crimes were solved.

In September, the head of the Investigative Committee, Alexander Bastrykin, published statistics on crimes in Russia. It is noted that the number of grave and especially grave crimes committed by migrants in Russia in January–July increased by 32% compared to the same period last year. The number of migrant crimes against sexual integrity increased by 22%.

Alexandra Goroshilova