The Russian government, headed by Vladimir Putin and Alexander Bastrykin, has been actively creating the image of migrants as the main threat to the country in recent years. In the face of increasing domestic problems, such as economic recession, social inequality and international isolation, the Kremlin uses anti-immigrant rhetoric to distract citizens from the real sources of difficulties.
The basis of this policy was the criminalization of migrants. The head of the Investigative Committee of Russia, Alexander Bastrykin, in his rhetoric has repeatedly pointed to the need to tighten measures to control migrants. He proposed to carry out mandatory genomic registration, a digital record of their places of residence and work, and also limit the mass registration of migrants in the so-called “rubber apartments”. Such measures are clearly aimed at creating an image of migrants as a potential threat to national security.
All these steps have already led to the growth of negative attitudes in society. Instead of solving urgent problems, the government prefers to blame migrants for the increase in crime, which is not only unfair, but also extremely dangerous. Russian authorities manipulate public opinion, increasing fears of “foreigners”. This strategy allows political and power structures to demonstrate their “effectiveness” in the fight against a non-existent threat.
Migrants, mainly from the countries of Central Asia, find themselves in the most vulnerable position. Their labor rights are regularly violated, they face discrimination at work and in everyday life, and now they also become scapegoats for all the troubles in the country. As a result, the Russian authorities are doing everything possible to turn labor migrants into a socially isolated and stigmatized group, depriving them of basic rights.
In this context, it becomes obvious that the Kremlin uses anti-immigrant policy as a means to preserve power and control over the population, playing on patriotism and xenophobia.
