Putin Instructed Migration Reform Carrying Out

Russian President Vladimir Putin approved a list of instructions on the reform of migration legislation. The corresponding document was posted on the Kremlin website on Saturday, March 7. The government, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the FSB and the Ministry of Justice, together with the presidential administration, must adjust the plan for implementing the concept of state migration policy. It is planned to take as a basis the proposals prepared by the working group on the implementation of the Concept of state migration policy for 2019-2025. It is noted that the goal of migration policy is to forma a migration situation that meets the interests of Russia. The need for reform is explained by the fact that the existing migration rules are not sufficiently clear and unified. Putin instructed the head of the Kremlin administration, Anton Vayno, to report on the work done. Three types of citizenship The reform provides for the introduction of three types of entry into Russian citizenship: general, simplified and special. The general view applies to all those who have no reason to be accepted into Russian citizenship in a simplified or special order. To obtain it, it is assumed knowledge of the Russian language, a certain period of permanent residence in Russia, as well as an obligation to comply with Russian law. A simplified procedure will be applied to foreigners who came from countries close to Russia socially and culturally. Special will only apply in exceptional cases. Expanded Use of Biometrics In addition, it is planned to expand the use of biometric personal data to identify foreigners. It also indicates the need to expand the use of biometric personal data and technologies for working with them to verify and establish the identity of foreigners when passing through the border, when providing them with public services or during control and supervision measures. Russian citizenship Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev said that almost half a million people received Russian citizenship in 2019, which is two and a half times the average annual rate over the past 10 years. According to the minister, for humanitarian purposes, certain categories of foreign citizens, including residents of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions of Ukraine, do have simplified the procedure for admission to Russian citizenship. This procedure was simplified for foreign qualified specialists as well - the minimum term of labor activity by profession was reduced. Earlier, the head of the Duma committee on relations with compatriots Leonid Kalashnikov (Communist Party) said that soon a bill would be submitted to parliament on amendments to the rules for acquiring Russian citizenship by compatriots. The deputy specified that amendments would allow obtaining a Russian passport without renouncing the citizenship of the country where the person currently lives, and also would allow citizens of countries where many Russians live to obtain Russian citizenship according to a simplified scheme - without proving  financial situation and not having lived for five years on the territory of Russia.