The Russian migration policy has started to gain systemic features, and one of the measures designed to prevent the emergence of foreign criminals in the country is fingerprinting. Fingerprinting systems will be established at up to 200 ports of entry into the Russian Federation in 2016. This innovation will make it possible to identify foreigners who try to enter the country illegally at the borders.
One proponent of the idea, in particular, is the executive secretary of the Public Advisory Council at the Federal Migration Service, the Project Director of the Development Fund of International Relations ‘Neighbourhood’, Yuri Moscowsskiy (Fingerprinting is an alternative to the outdated visa system). However, realization of the idea of mass fingerprinting, which is planned to be used as a method of dealing with illegal immigrants, is very difficult.
A migration expert, Alexander Kalinin: "If we are now talking about a system that they want to introduce for fingerprinting all citizens who cross into, who want to enter the territory of the Russian Federation, to take fingerprints. There are some difficulties. Firstly, if I enter as a tourist, why should I be fingerprinted? The federal law does not regulate this point, so I can refuse. So at the borders it will be necessary to proceed from the fact that firstly it is necessary to give a migration card to a citizen who crosses the border, then determine if he has a private purpose for the visit, and he, as a tourist, respectively, should not be asked to give fingerprints by the border guards or employees of the FMS depending on who will take the fingerprints. Accordingly, those citizens who are entering the country to work will have to be fingerprinted."
Another problem according to Kalinin is related to the possible vicissitudes of migrants that are already on the territory of Russia: "if we speak on behalf of the migrants who came to the territory of the Russian Federation, and yet for some reason were unable to issue the documents giving the opportunity to work in Russia. He can have no money, get into a situation in which he finds himself with no money, but he has already had his fingerprints taken. On this, I believe that today the rule of law 128, which is working for the moment, says that fingerprints should be taken when he receives permission. That is, the last stage. We get a patent, give fingerprints and get our permits, if there are no violations of laws."
A third problem expert called financial component: ‘'the financial component of today is 400 points, not 200 as appeared in the press. It is necessary to determine the border guards that are under the jurisdiction of the Federal Security Service who will take fingerprints. They must be trained. It is not an easy procedure. Even given that there are now electronic devices for taking fingerprints, it is still a very complex procedure. A lot of supplies. You see, even the moment of elementary hygiene. After each citizen goes through the fingerprinting procedure, you must wipe the device with wet wipes. It's elementary standards of hygiene, but there will be whopping expenses even on this elementary procedure. If you do not adhere to these standards, respectively, there are certain violations. And my rights as a migrant worker who crosses into the territory of the Russian Federation must be complied with. Also, the purchase of these devices. It is necessary to calculate how many items we need, depending on the capacity of the customs posts. I cannot imagine the possible way. Clearly, this system could be introduced at airports, as it was introduced in St. Petersburg at two test points in 2016, where people are fingerprinted. But how can this be introduced at the customs posts where there are trains, where there is a huge flow of passenger cars, buses, we must not forget that there are children. The project, if I'm not mistaken, is designed so that children from 6 years of age must be fingerprinted as well''
Kalinin thinks that until 2016, the State Duma will not be able to adopt such a law, both because of the complexity of its implementation in financial terms and according to the norms of international law.
