Moscow to toughen measures in regard to illegal migrants

Measures in regard to illegal migrants arriving in Moscow will be toughened, city mayor Yuri Luzhkov told journalists Saturday.

A decision was adopted to enhance the work of passport issuing offices and district police officers to reveal and deport all those who are illegal guests of the city, he said.

In his words, the city authorities intend to toughen the system of registration in Moscow. "Everything will be in line with the laws existing in the state and the city," Luzhkov said.

He said 35,000 illegal migrants were deported from Moscow in 2003. "This is more than in any other region of the country," said the mayor.