Russia considers ban on migrant children without Russian language skills from schools

“We will direct proposals on labor migration, as well as on the families arriving with migrants, to the government,” Volodin said. “We will propose comprehensive solutions within the competence of the authorized government bodies.” The draft regulation will be discussed by deputies on November 20.

In addition, the regulation will require mandatory checks on the legal status of foreign nationals residing in Russia when enrolling children in schools.

The move comes amid heightened anti-migrant sentiment following a terrorist attack at the Crocus City Hall in Moscow, allegedly involving migrants from Central Asia. The attack has led to an increase in anti-migrant measures, including reinforced border controls at Russian airports.

Furthermore, the Russian government plans to introduce a registry of controlled individuals in 2025 to identify illegal migrants more effectively. The tightening of Russia’s migration policy is also reflected in a 50% increase in deportations of foreign nationals over the past year, resulting in over two million migrants leaving the country.

As of September, there were 6.2 million foreign nationals registered in Russia, compared to 8.5 million during the same period last year.

However, some leaders, such as the head of Chechnya, have criticized these migration restrictions, describing the measures as an “Inquisition.”