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Russia raises question of introducing visa rules with CIS member-states

On Friday, the Communist Party’s parliamentary faction will discuss the idea of holding a referendum on introduction of visa regime for labor migrants from CIS member-states

The State Duma or the lower house of Russian parliament proposed to introduce visa rules for citizens of CIS countries and the Communist Party started drafting the relevant bill. According to a survey of the All-Russian Public Opinion Research Centre (WCIOM), recently Muscovites have urged tougher migration laws, considering this problem even much more important than that of urban transport. Seventy-seven percent of the respondents support the idea of tightening the migration legislation.

Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin expresses his support for tougher visa rules with Central Asian countries neighboring Russia. “Of course, it would be better, if they enter Russia by foreign passports, with visas. There would be much more law and order,” online media quoted Sobyanin as saying.

On Friday, the Communist Party’s parliamentary faction will discuss the idea of holding a referendum on introduction of visa regime for labor migrants from CIS member-states. The referendum may take place if a parliamentary majority in the State Duma rejects the Communist Party-initiated bill on visas that will be submitted to the lower house within a month, the Nezavisimaya Gazeta daily writes. Parliamentarians urge tougher control over migrants entering Russia and over employers who can be brought to responsibility and even be deprived of licenses for business activity, if they employ illegal migrants.

The visa issue became pressing after a 25-year-old Muscovite was killed in the Russian capital’s Biryulyovo district allegedly by an Azerbaijani migrant, what caused riots targeted at migrant workers.

Sergei Sobyanin admitted danger of emergence of the so-called “ethnic districts” in Moscow. On Tuesday, Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov called for convening an emergency meeting of the Security Council to discuss riots in Biryulyovo.

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Pelosi's remarks about US protesters undemocratic, Russian diplomat says

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Alrosa is working in Angola since 1992

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The report hasn’t been officially confirmed

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Pipeline gas exports are forecast to edge up by 7% to 108 bln cubic meters

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Kremlin spokesman describes European Parliament as 'Russophobic machine'

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Network of international conspirators plotted Crocus terrorist attack — watchdog

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