The introduction of visas separates our countries from each other

Member of the Presidium of the All-Russian Azerbaijani Congress Rustam Arifdzhanov and chairman of the Central Council of the All-Russian public organization Russian Congress of Uzbeks Ibrahim Khoudayberdiyev discussed national policy carried out in Russia and ways of preventing ethnic conflicts. The experts pointed out that the introduction of a visa regime for the countries of the former Soviet Union will alienate Russia from these countries, and in general political will is needed for addressing the problems of illegal migration. The participants noted that in such integration structures as the Customs Union and Eurasian Union, due to which the Russian borders will become more open to the neighbors, there is nothing wrong; however, migrant workers necessary for the economy of Russia are obliged to return to their homeland.

Arifdzhanov and Khoudayberdiyev called for the reform of the laws governing the working life of migrants. Among the shortcomings of the current work they pointed to too little attention paid to young people, illiteracy conducive to increased tensions among the migrants themselves, and overcrowding in detention centers for foreign nationals.