According to Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin, from next year, citizens of countries that have visa-free access to Russia will begin to be issued electronic identification cards when entering the capital. The cards will store all information about the immigrant, including the date of entry, biometric data, their place of work and registered address.
The project will equip Moscow police with electronic card readers, making it easier for them to check the information on the cards. In particular, if the device gives a red light, it means that the card holder has legal problems or violated immigration regulations and will be immediately detained.
Starting in 2024, Moscow will test the collection of biometric data from citizens arriving by air from visa-free countries. Information such as photos and fingerprints will be stored in a database to effectively support crime prevention. According to Mr. Sobyanin, this is expected to contribute to reducing the number of crimes in the Russian capital.
The significant increase in illegal immigration in Russia is the main reason for this program. According to the Russian Investigative Committee, migrants have committed more than 26,000 criminal cases so far this year, with violations by illegal residents tripling from 2,880 in 2023 to 8,059. At the same time, the number of crimes related to extremist activities has increased by 14% compared to last year, reaching 73.
Some migrants attribute their extremist views to religious beliefs, officials say, and some have even openly expressed negative attitudes toward local residents. The Russian Ministry of Home Affairs says there are about 6.2 million foreign citizens living in Russia, of whom an estimated 740,000 are undocumented.
In an effort to manage the situation, the Ministry of Home Affairs has announced that it is drawing up a list of illegal immigrants, which it expects to be put into use next year. Those on the list will have limited access to basic services, including banking, driving and registering property in Russia.
