Every year, Russia's population shrinks by 700,000 people, and if the situation does not change in the next few years, by 2005 the number of pensioners and working citizens will be equal. The consequences are clear even to a child: children will simply be unable to earn a living for their fathers and grandfathers, and the gap between wages, pensions, and the minimum subsistence level will become even more noticeable. And what kind of national development can we talk about if there is a catastrophic shortage of workers?
So the Russian government decided to resort to a time-tested method: to invite foreigners to its vast expanses. There is no hope for a second mass influx of 'Germans and other Swedes' (after the famous decree of Peter the Great), and the Russian government plans to populate the country with those wishing to return to their historical homeland: Russians or Russian-speakers from countries that were once part of the indivisible union.
According to government plans, up to 4 million people may move to Russia for permanent residence by 2015. True, there is no clear action plan yet, and the Ministry of National and Migration Policy must submit it to the government by May 15 of this year. A bright mind, skillful hands, and knowledge of the Russian language are the only requirements for candidates for the title of 'new Russians'—though they are unlikely to ever become 'new Russians'.
No one knows how many foreigners are needed to save Russia, not even the head of the Ministry of Nationalities, Alexander Blokhin. He said vaguely: 'The more, the better.' Next year, the state intends to increase aid to migrants, but as the minister stated, Russia is interested in settlers who will not be a burden on the state but can settle themselves. The government's policy is: if you are heading to Moscow, settle as best you can; but if you voluntarily decide to move to the Far East, the government may help.
Currently, one and a half million foreigners work in Russia. These are mainly illegal 'gastarbeiters' from Ukraine, Belarus, Tajikistan, Moldova, who regularly do not pay taxes and just as regularly end up in jail for violating passport regulations.
Here is how Yuri Arkhipov, head of a department at the Ministry of National Migration Policy, commented on the situation: 'The problem is that we are still using the law on the legal status of foreigners from 1981, according to which non-citizens of Russia cannot engage in economic activity in Russia. According to various sources, between 1.3 and 1.5 million foreigners work illegally in Russia. But our economy needs even more. So it is time to change the outdated law. Instead, since October 1, 2000, visitors from the CIS have been required to obtain a residence permit. As a result, legal migration from neighboring countries has halved.'