Russia sets stricter limits on migrant accommodation

The Russian State Duma has introduced a proposal to regulate the living conditions of migrants by limiting the size of living space allocated per registered individual in apartments.

The draft legislation also seeks to impose similar space restrictions on migrants residing in hostels within multi-apartment buildings, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

Leonid Slutsky, one of the bill’s authors, emphasised the growing problem of the apartments, where numerous individuals are officially registered as residents but may not actually live there and hostels—where large numbers of migrants are crammed into residential buildings.

He highlighted cases where a single apartment complex with 500 flats could host a hostel accommodating a thousand or more migrants. 

“This, of course, violates the rights of residents and puts a huge strain on the building’s infrastructure. Therefore, it is necessary to introduce these restrictions,” Slutsky said, adding that the relevant bills are being prepared for submission to the lower house of parliament.

In addition to housing regulations, another draft law under consideration would require all foreign nationals entering Russia to undergo mandatory fingerprinting and photographing, regardless of their visa status or length of stay. 

Slutsky explained, “We need to clearly understand who is coming into our country — then the issue of forged passports will resolve itself.”

By Naila Huseynova