Thread by @Prune602

‼️ Moscow Migrant Mystery Thread

I came across a news story that caught my attention. And I’m not positive that I can identify what is going on. It seems…extra unusual.

Before we continue, a warning:

🚨 DO NOT TRAVEL TO RUSSIA

I’m trying to save lives 🥹

First, we need background so we can separate what is unfortunately normal for Russia from what is unusual.

Xenophobia/racism exists openly in Russia in a way that is almost jarring.

https://twitter.com/prune602/status/1585014299847643137

Here’s a thread showing Sergey Mardan basically saying he’s in favor of segregation.

https://twitter.com/prune602/status/1626641046586200069

This happens regularly. And this isn’t some niche taken out of context thing. This is happening on Russian State Media on big nationally broadcast TV shows. This is mainstream.

https://twitter.com/prune602/status/1628573149422911488

It’s never been great to be a migrant in Russia. And Russians don’t trust others in general.

https://twitter.com/prune602/status/1826305552508387505

And Russian government officials & propagandists have made it clear that they don’t want people to come to Russia and group together with a shared identity.

I have seen examples of migrants banding together in Russia to fight back against oppression in ways I haven’t seen elsewhere.

DISCLAIMER: per usual Dagestan is excluded from this statement. It’s just different. Don’t assume anything good or bad that happens there will spread

This was a rare example, but when you look into who was protesting and why it’s the same situation that Russia wants to avoid.

https://twitter.com/prune602/status/1747762858480320975

Currently, Russia is suffering from a MASSIVE Labor shortage, while at the same time increasing Xenophobia against migrants. And the government really doesn’t make much effort to stop it.

So the migrants have been disappearing from Russia for a variety of reasons.

We’d be here all day if I gave you all the examples I’ve documented but there are lots of reasons.

- Some have stopped coming to Russia or left because of the Xenophobia. In many cases they fear for their safety, and there have been multiple cases where governments have told…

…then not to travel to Russia.

- The financial benefits are no longer advantageous. The financial situation has been worsening for Russia. So a combination of factors such as exchange rates, or perhaps the improvement of the economy back home has prompted them to leave.

- Russia deported them

- Russia grabbed them and pressed them into the military. This has been happening since early in the war. In addition there are groups that have been recruiting foreigners under false pretenses to come to Russia to work and then send them to the front.

I have not seen any concern shown about the foreigners that are being rounded up. They’ve even decided to make it a holiday affair in some cases.

The feeling appears to be from other Russians “It means they didn’t take my family”

The same attitude was used to tell the public that Wagner and troops made with freed prisoners were not only necessary, but beneficial because otherwise it would be their family members sent.

https://twitter.com/prune602/status/1727461343136022556

So migrants are often used as a scapegoat for everything, just like “the West”, Ukraine, anyone that is LGBT, etc.

Another widespread trend is to ban migrants from operating taxis. Doesn’t appear to be unique to specific region.

In the Moscow Region specifically there have been other government mandates

Like this disturbing thread about the “dormitories” the government is requiring businesses to build on site. Imagine the GULAG version of warehouse fulfillment center. Like GULAG Wildberries. 😬

https://twitter.com/prune602/status/1764731544751525956

This 👇

https://twitter.com/prune602/status/1740094674717851802

And apparently Moscow Region is to be “cleared” of foreigners”

They have been carrying out raids.

https://twitter.com/prune602/status/1817252924046893394

So now we get to the new story

‼️ “Moscow Region Strengthens Borders

What is known about the ban on entry for foreign citizens to some cities”

That’s right, they’ve banned foreigners from entire cities.

kommersant.ru/doc/6917506

“Residents of the Moscow region complain about restrictions for foreign citizens. They are simply not allowed to visit some cities, which is why the service sector suffers. Signs prohibiting migrants from crossing the city limits appeared at the beginning of the summer.”

Weird

Here is the map of Moscow (the center ring). I plotted the six locations identified in the article where foreigners are banned.

And remember: there are MASSIVE LABOR SHORTAGES EVERYWHERE

‼️ “The reasons were not announced in the press release published on the Odintsovo administration website. The duration of the ban is also not specified.“

“Because of it, local residents have already encountered difficulties. For example, they cannot call a taxi if a foreign citizen is driving.”

“Stanislav Kryuchkov, a resident of Odintsovo…shared his observations….”

“"The taxi refuses to go to Odintsovo, citing a photo document, let's call it that, sent to internal taxi chats with an image of a road sign installed at the entrance to the city with the inscription "You are entering a territory with regulated entry for foreign citizens."”

“The taxi driver says that he does not have Russian citizenship, although he is legally in the country, so if he is stopped by traffic police, he faces a large fine.”

“He asks to cancel the order, and depending on the agreement, either the client cancels it, or the driver himself says, well, then I will cancel it. The frequency of such cases is insignificant, but the fact remains a fact."”

“The authorities warned that if the police find a foreigner in a closed area, he will be detained. The fine for violation is 5 thousand rubles.”

🇷🇺: New revenue stream! 🤑

“The administration refers to a government decree from 32 years ago. It states that the entry of migrants must be agreed with "host organizations", i.e. employers.”

Weird

“In June, Moscow region portals reported on police raids and detentions of migrants for being in places with regulated visits. They were released with a warning, but without a fine. It was promised for a repeat violation.”

“Stanislav Vodonayev, a deputy of the Odintsovo city council, says that the reasons for the ban were not publicly disclosed:”

“"Indeed, there is a certain regulatory component. As far as I know, at the entrance to the Odintsovo District there is a stand prohibiting certain persons from visiting it. This information is also posted in post offices.”

“Visually, I observe a fairly large number of foreign citizens in the district. It would be unreliable to say that there are none in the Odintsovo Urban District.”

“I won’t say why this is being updated now, but the fact that such restrictions exist, regulatory ones, is a fact. The population is informed about them. Another issue is who monitors compliance with these restrictions.”

“Raids to identify citizens illegally staying in Russia are conducted everywhere in any case. Perhaps this is due to some general tension. At the same time, I regularly use taxi services myself, but for the first time I heard that taxi drivers refuse to go there at all.””

‼️ “Kommersant FM's sources attribute the ban to the location of strategic military facilities. Local residents note that the restrictions do not affect the work of courier services and catering establishments.”

🤔 Maybe? Maybe not?

“Vladimir Volokh, a member of the Presidential Council on Interethnic Relations, admits that the restrictions may soon be lifted:”

‼️ “"The authorities have established these restrictions for a reason. There are facilities in these territories that foreign citizens are highly undesirable to visit.”

“As for taxi drivers entering this territory, I don’t think this is a mass story, but there are isolated cases. There should be clearer measures taken by the law enforcement system, by those agencies responsible for national security.”

“These measures should exclude entry into this territory. If this is of no interest, then the relevant provision should be cancelled. But while it is in effect, there should be very clear, strict measures.””

“The decree on areas with limited access, in addition to Odintsovo, is in effect in Balashikha, Mytishchi, Podolsk, Solnechnogorsk and Shchyolkovsky urban districts.”

So this is the mystery. WHY IS THERE A BAN? AND WHY THERE?

Is it extreme Xenophobia?
Is it paranoia?
Is it something to do with state security?

Are they building bunkers for the elites? What is going on? Especially if there are discussions of LIFTING the ban.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I *think* this thing might be in one of the restricted areas

@marro_bert @itishimarstime I try very hard to be accommodating to make it as accessible to everyone as possible.