"A correct migration policy becomes highly important in conditions of an unfavorable national demographic situation," Lukin told a press conference here today.
According to Lukin, such a policy should stipulate serious immigration incentives, regulation and a well thought-out regional policy.
Lukin advocated state control over the settlement of migrants on Russian territory. At the same time, he stressed that the obviously incorrect 2001 migration law had recently been amended to some extent under civil-society pressure.
Lukin suggested that other departments, rather than the Interior Ministry's structures, deal with social aspects of migration. The Interior Ministry merely strives to control and to ban, Lukin stressed.
Moreover, the Russian Ombudsman suggested establishing an inter-departmental commission that would provide social support to compatriots arriving in Russia. He also deems it necessary to simplify the legalization of migrants, who have been living in Russia for quite a while, and to introduce a simpler procedure for obtaining Russian citizenship.
