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Minister reveals what percent of 6 mln foreigners in Russia staying illegally

Vladimir Kolokoltsev noted that, despite positive, tangible changes, high risks in this area remain, also due to the unstable situation in the post-Soviet zone and the Middle East

MOSCOW, November 16. /TASS/. Roughly six million foreigners are in Russia, and 9% of them are residing in the country illegally, the head of the Russian Interior Ministry, Vladimir Kolokoltsev, said during the government hour in the Federation Council on Wednesday.

"There are about 6 million foreigners in our country, and 9% of them have no legal grounds for that. By comparison, in 2016, almost every third migrant was [an illegal one]," he specified.

Kolokoltsev noted that, despite positive, tangible changes, high risks in this area remain, also due to the unstable situation in the post-Soviet zone and the Middle East. "In this regard, we will strengthen control. After the pandemic break verification activities have been resumed, 225,000 of them have been carried out this year," the minister said.

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