MOSCOW. Oct 27 (Interfax) - The spread of radical ideology among migrant workers needs to be prevented, bearing in mind the increasing threat of terrorism, Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev said.
"One threat-forming factor in the aggravation of the crime situation is infiltration into the territory of Russia by people who have radical religious views, who engage in propaganda and recruitment activities, including in places where many foreign migrants live and work," Patrushev said at a meeting on national security in the Central Federal District.
The largescale influx of migrant workers from other states creates serious risks of an increase in crime, ethnic and religious conflicts, and riots and increases tension among the native population, he said.
"Therefore, I am asking the heads of the regions, law enforcement agencies, and the special services to keep under special control issues related to preventing the spread of radical ideology among foreign migrants. To ensure observance by them of Russian legislation, prevent manifestations of xenophobia, and increase the level of public safety in places where migrants live and work," Patrushev said.
These measures are necessary, bearing in mind the increase in the number of extremist and terrorist crimes in the Central Federal District, he said.
"Information technologies are being used increasingly more actively to recruit militants, for money laundering, for financing of terrorist and extremist activities. Attempts are still being made to use the information space to destabilize the sociopolitical situation, including by artificially fomenting tension in ethnic and religious relations, cultivating an ideology of nationalism and separatism," Patrushev said.