| Human Rights ombudsman Vladimir
Lukin has formed a working group to consider an amnesty for some illegal
immigrants to the Russian Federation, "Rossiiskaya gazeta" reported
on 18 September. According to Lukin, the amnesty would apply to migrants
who have lived in Russia for a long time, have integrated into society,
and have not committed any other crimes. Lukin told the daily that the
issue is timely, because such amnesties frequently precede the toughening
of immigration laws. The hostage crisis in Beslan has put immigration restrictions
on the political agenda, but Lukin dismissed the suggestion that the amnesty
envisioned by his working group might help terrorists: "A terrorist,
I assure you, will not seek to obtain citizenship or a residence permit."
According to Lukin, an amnesty would reduce opportunities for corruption
among bureaucrats and would increase tax revenues from longtime residents.
In the same interview, Lukin criticized a proposal by Moscow city authorities
to toughen registration rules for foreigners living in the Russian capital.
He argued that such a move would be imitated by other city mayors, leading
to the disintegration of Russia into "feudal estates."
See also:
Human
Rights
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Radio Free Europe/Radio
Liberty, September 21, 2004
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