MOSCOW, January 18 (AVN) - The number of illegal migrants in Russia may amount to three million by the end of 2001, experts from the Ministries of Federation Affairs, National and Migration Policy, Interior and Federal Border Guard Service (FBGS) reported.
The number of illegal migrants detained on the Russian border has increased 10 times in the past five years, a spokesman for the FBGS told the Military News Agency. Among them are citizens of 30 countries that do not border on Russia.
According to Russian law enforcement bodies, 52 criminal groups engaged in illegal migrants trafficking were eliminated in 2000. However, some 100 criminal groups still continue to do it.
The most alarming situation is on the Russia-China border. According to Russian law enforcers, there are some 250,000 Chinese citizens officially registered in Russia, while the real number of Chinese staying in the country approaches 750,000. In some parts of the country the number of illegal Chinese migrants equaled that of local residents. In this connection, Russian special services and analysts report there is a possibility that illegal migrants, de-facto living in Russia, can demand establishment of national autonomies.