Over 19,000 Foreigners Violated Migration Legislation
in Primorye

VLADIVOSTOK (RIA Novosti) – Over 19,000 foreigners were held accountable in Primorye (Russian Far East) for violations of the migration legislation in 2003.

RIA Novosti was informed on Sunday in the Primorye territory’s interior affairs department press service that Chinese nationals get on the ‘black list’ more often than others: they account for over 4,500 violations. These usually include expired visas or lack of registration upon arrival in Russia.

Citizens of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) were brought to administrative account way more often in 2003 than in 2002. Nationals of Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan top the list of violators.

Overall, in 2003 decisions were taken in Primorye to expel from Russia 1,100 foreign citizens who grossly violated the Russian Federation legislation.

The press service noted that the inflow to Russia of foreigners from the CIS countries who come to the territory to earn money has been on the increase lately. Ukraine, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan provide Primorye with labor force more often than other countries. The number of people from North and South Koreas and Vietnam who want to earn money in Russia has also increased.

However, most migrants are from China. Last year, over 230,000 Chinese nationals visited Primorye with different aims.

In 2003, Primorye immigration control officers revealed 825 illegal migrants. Their aim of entering Russia did not correspond to that indicated in their visas.