Translate this page:
Please select your language to translate the article


You can just close the window to don't translate
Library
Your profile

Back to contents

Security Issues
Reference:

On the issue of mobilizing citizens to preserve traditional values

Bagreeva Elena Gennadievna

ORCID: 0000-0003-1407-1574

Professor, Department of Legal Regulation of Economic Activities, Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation

125167, Russia, Moscow, Leningradsky Ave., 49/2

bagreg@yandex.ru
Other publications by this author
 

 
Kutsev Vladimir Valentinovich

Deputy, Representative Assembly of the Rylsky District of the Kursk Region

307370, Russia, Kursk, K.liebknecht str., 21

Avto1772@mail.ru

DOI:

10.25136/2409-7543.2023.2.43456

EDN:

LQIZKP

Received:

28-06-2023


Published:

05-07-2023


Abstract: This article is devoted to the negative impact of illegal migration on the expansion of the consumption of narcotic and psychotropic substances. The analysis of the statistics of migrants involved in drug trafficking is given. The effectiveness of the legal measures taken to improve the drug situation in the country is investigated, their insufficiency is emphasized. For further analysis of the situation, the factors influencing the political risks of national security are proposed. The necessity of increased attention to illegal migration and illicit drug trafficking as unmanageable risks for the purpose of their manageability is substantiated. A statistical analysis was carried out on the problems considered in the article to substantiate the relevance of the results obtained. The scientific novelty of the article consists in the identification and analysis of four main groups of political threats of illegal migration (political-legal, economic-legal, criminal-legal, social-legal). The presented article makes it possible to understand in which cases illegal migration poses a threat to the population drug addiction and undermines country's security. It is concluded that the main dangers of uncontrolled risks are: the unknown conditions of their occurrence and the lack of effective measures to counteract them. The analysis of the current situation with migration flows made it possible to come to the conclusion that illegal migration, together with the accompanying drug addiction of citizens, should be classified as threats and risks to national security. This makes it necessary to expand the means and forces in the fight against this negative and dangerous phenomenon.


Keywords:

illegal migration, the rise of drug addiction, unmanageable risks, political risks, narcotic substances, safety, criminal groups, migration registration, shadow economy, labor migration

This article is automatically translated.

Recently, the problem of illegal migration in the Russian Federation has become an urgent reason for the growth of drug addiction. In paragraph 48 of the Strategy of the State Anti-Drug Policy until 2020, the increase in the level of illegal migration and the growth of international crime with the emergence of new smuggling channels referred to uncontrolled risks that should be paid special attention to. It is noteworthy that in the new Strategy of the state Anti-Drug Policy of the Russian Federation for the period up to 2030, illegal migration no longer refers to risks and threats to national security, but only transnational criminal groups are mentioned. In other countries, the situation is almost identical, which is confirmed by official statistics [1] and international reports [2]. In this regard, it should be understood: in what cases does illegal migration threaten the narcosis of the country, undermining its security?

The peculiarities of unmanageable risks are that the conditions for their occurrence are unknown, and the proven countermeasures are not clear and have not been formed. Illegal migration has all these signs [3].

Illegal migration is understood as entry into the territory of the Russian Federation, stay and departure of foreign citizens and stateless persons with non-compliance with the norms of Russian legislation [4], as well as arbitrary change of their position during their stay in the territory of the Russian Federation [5]. A similar understanding of illegal migration is contained in foreign sources [6].

According to official data of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation in 2021, the number of illegal migrants amounted to 800 thousand – 1 million people, the bulk of them are visitors from CIS countries [7]. However, according to expert estimates, the real number of illegal migrants differs from official statistics and amounts to 2.5 million people.

In 2021 alone, 327 criminal cases were initiated against, for example, Kyrgyz people under Article 228 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, which is 60% more than in the previous 2020 (against 191 cases). For example, in the Kursk Region in 2021, 30 foreign citizens were detained for crimes related to drug trafficking, 5% of all detainees were citizens from Central Asia.

Thus, 42,042 foreign citizens registered for migration in the Kursk Region in 2021, 6,616 people from Central Asian countries, including 3,693 from Uzbekistan, 1,819 from Tajikistan, 435 from Kyrgyzstan, 368 from Kazakhstan, 301 from Turkmenistan. The second largest "detachment" from Ukraine – 4,021 people, the third – from the Transcaucasian countries – 2,284 people, of which from Armenia – 1,588, Azerbaijan – 599. The number of foreign citizens registered for migration from the Middle East countries amounted to 204 people. At the same time, 2,783 people were identified as illegal citizens (a total of protocols were drawn up under chapter 18 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Russian Federation).

It should be recognized that the problem of illegal migration carries political threats. Attention is also drawn to this in foreign sources [8]. Let's analyze these threats in 4 directions:

1) The political and legal aspect has an external and internal orientation. The external one is expressed in the complication of the development of Russia's foreign policy relations with other countries, which may arise as a result of the tightening of migration policy. Internal - in reducing the integration and integrity of society. This is clearly manifested when migrants have a different religion, culture, lifestyle from the host country, and their integration processes are difficult [9]. In this case, it is necessary to establish legal regulation of the system of integration of migrants into Russian society, providing them with the process of socialization [10]. Otherwise, the growth of communities, diasporas and isolated groups will be inevitable, the control of which will be difficult and even impossible. Examples of this already exist in world practice [11].

2) The economic and legal aspect is closely related to the criminal orientation of illegal migration, since all the incomes of illegal migrants are not declared, the country's economy does not receive taxes and deductions. Moreover, a large amount of money is in the "shadow" economy (drug trafficking, weapons, people, prostitution, large-scale smuggling, criminal gangs). So, in 2019, the volume of the "shadow" (unaccounted for) economy amounted to 11.7 trillion rubles. or 12.7% of GDP.

3) The criminal-legal aspect reveals indicators of the growth of corruption, which hinders the fight against illegal migration [12], the employment of illegal migrants in the shadow economy and the commission of crimes. Often, the fight against illegal labor migration is opposed not by a single entity, but by an entire criminal group or diaspora. Since it is difficult for migrants to assimilate in a new country for them due to the lack of a high level of education, knowledge of the language, social skills, laws and peculiarities of life in the country, they are forced to "stick to their own" and unite in communities and diasporas that are almost not controlled by law enforcement agencies of the Russian Federation.

4) The socio-legal aspect is focused on the analysis of the formation of special labor markets in which only migrants are employed: their main threat is that migrants occupy unattractive niches for Russian citizens, thereby worsening social standards in the field of labor, bringing down the price of labor [13]. Thus, in regions where the share of migrants is higher, there is competition for jobs between the indigenous population and migrants, which causes social tension. This is especially evident in more developed regions, where migrants are willing to work for low salaries, and Russians refuse positions for a similar amount of remuneration. This situation leads to a forced increase in salaries and additional business costs, or, conversely, during periods of unemployment, Russians are willing to accept low wages, which leads to a general drop in living standards.

All over the world, the impact of migration processes on the situation with drug crime is only increasing every year [14]. Until 2021, the situation with drug crime involving migrants was complicated by the fact that there were a large number of drug addicts among migrants. Among the teenage children of legal migrants, one in three took various drugs [5]. In 2017, according to official data, out of the 30 most wanted drug traffickers in Russia, only 3 were citizens of the Russian Federation, the rest were foreign citizens. 11 Azerbaijani citizens and 7 Tajik citizens were suspected of repeatedly supplying prohibited substances on a particularly large scale. For smuggling of prohibited substances, the suspects were 3 citizens of Tajikistan and 2 citizens of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan each. 12 citizens of Azerbaijan and 4 citizens of Tajikistan were wanted for sale on a particularly large scale [15].

Often, those migrants who have a semi-legal status, who find themselves in a difficult life situation due to the loss of a source of income, or who use drugs even before arriving on the territory of the Russian Federation, distribute drugs [16]. This problem was minimized with the introduction of mandatory testing for HIV, drugs and a number of infectious diseases for migrants coming to the territory of the Russian Federation for a period of more than 90 days.

Criminologists distinguish the following features of a migrant criminal who commits crimes in the field of illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances:

1) citizens of the CIS countries, mainly Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, male from 30 to 49 years old, who is illegally in the territory of the Russian Federation and does not have an official place of work;

2) mostly single and without children, as the family stimulates positive and socially acceptable behavior, performing the role of a certain control. However, about a quarter of all criminals were married, but in this case it is worth talking about a difficult life situation associated with illness / death of relatives or loss of earnings. In addition, married couples and, in particular, women are less susceptible to risky and criminal behavior. Usually, migrant women are aimed at long-term or permanent residence in the host country, are busy arranging family life, establishing contacts with society, and it is easier for them than men to integrate into the socio-cultural life of the country, since they care about the well-being of the family, and not about their status [17].

3) the level of education of persons committing a crime is very low: almost all migrants convicted under articles 228-324.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation do not have higher education. Since most criminals used illegal substances, this may indicate the presence of limited learning abilities and weak internal protection from unconscious drives [18]. It should be noted that the organizers of the criminal group and manufacturers of illegal substances have a fairly high level of education, as well as the fact that they are not consumers of narcotic substances [19].

Analyzing the current situation with migration flows [20], we have to admit that illegal migration and the accompanying drug addiction of the country's citizens should relate to risks and threats to national security, focusing on expanding the forces and means to combat this phenomenon.

References
1. Bilsborrow, R.E., Hugo, G., Oberai, A.S. & Zlotnik, H. (1997). International migration statistics: Guidelines for improving data collection system. Geneva, International Labour Office.
2. Poulain, Michael, (1992). Migration statistics for the EFTA countries, Report presented to the Working Party on Demographic Statistics, meeting on 26, 27, and 28 February. Luxembourg, Eurostat, doc. E3/SD/12/92.
3. Zipunnikov, D.A. (2023). Migration system of Russia: concept, essence and features. Legal reform, 1, 42-44. Retrieved from https://www.elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=50241663
4. Taeva, N.E. (2022). Implementation of the directions of migration policy in the legislation on citizenship of the Russian Federation. Bulletin of the University O.E. Kutafina, 6(94), 57-69. Retrieved from https://vestnik.msal.ru/jour/article/view/1773/1794
5. Kokunova, S.D., & Andreev, A.P. (2017). The impact of illegal migration on the drug situation in the Russian Federation. National Security / nota bene, 5(52).
6. Castles, Stephen & Mark J. Miller. (1998). The Age of Migration: International Population Movements in the Modern World. Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire, UK: Macmillan.
7. Joyce, E.A. (2022). Migration and economic security. Eds. E.A. Joyce, A.A. Simakov. Auditorskie Vedomosti, 1, 101-105. Retrieved from https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/migratsiya-i-ekonomicheskaya-bezopasnost
8. Schoorl, Jeannette J., Liesbeth Heering, Ingrid Esveldt, George Groenewold, Rob F. van der Erf, Alinda Bosch, Helga de Valk, & Bart J. de Bruijn. (2000). Push and Pull Factors of International Migration: A Comparative Report. Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities.
9. Lampadova, S.S. (2022). Institutional prerequisites for creating conditions for the adaptation of foreign citizens in the Russian Federation. Bulletin of economic security, 6, 156-160. Retrieved from http://mosumvd.com/izdatelskaya-deyatelnost/periodicheskie-izdaniya/vestnik-ekonomicheskoy-bezopasnosti-mvd-rossii/2022/2022-06_VEB.pdf
10. Zubova, M.V. (2022). On the ways of improving the migration policy taking into account new threats and challenges to the national security of Russia. Bulletin of the Moscow University of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, 3, 326-331. Retrieved from https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/o-putyah-sovershenstvovaniya-migratsionnoy-politiki-s-uchetom-novyh-ugroz-i-vyzovov-natsionalnoy-bezopasnosti-rossii
11. Lucas, Robert (2000). «Migration». In M. Grosh and P. Llewwe, eds. Designing Household Survey Questionnaires for Developing Countries: Lessons from 15 Years of the Living Standards Measurement Study. Volume 2, pp. 49–82. Washington DC: The World Bank.
12. Krasnikova, E.V. (2018). The state of corruption crime in the field of migration. Bulletin of the Academy of the Prosecutor General's Office of the Russian Federation, 1(63), 65-71.
13. Gulina, D.S. (2022). Socio-legal foundations for managing migration processes in modern Russia. Sociology, 2, 250-255. Retrieved from http://soziologi.ru/upload/iblock/142/uxum68omo5dg1ritge73fsurokpwmsip/%D0%A1%D0%BE%D1%86%D0%B8%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%BE%D0%B3 %D0%B8%D1%8F%20%E2%84%962%202022.pdf
14. Kritz, Mary M. & Hania Zlotnik. (1992). «Global Interactions: Migration Systems, Processes and Policies» In International Migration Systems: A Global Approach, pp. 1–18. Eds. by M. M. Kritz, L. L. Lim, & H. Zlotnik. Oxford New York: Clarendon Press; Oxford University Press.
15. Khvorova, O.B. (2017). Causes and conditions for committing crimes in the sphere of drug trafficking by criminal communities. Eurasian Advocacy, 2(27), 77.
16. Ketenchieva, E.S. (2019). Criminological characteristics of the personality of migrants involved in illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. Journal of Legal andEconomic Studies, 3, 64–69.
17. Britvina, I., & Kiblitskaya, M. (2004). The life of a migrant in a single-industry town. Moscow.
18. Mikhailova, V.A. (2004). Sociology: A Course of Lectures for Students of All Directions and Specialties. Ulyanovsk: ULGTU.
19. Trofimets, A.M. (2006). General characteristics of the drug situation in the world. Narcocontrol, 1, 23.
20. Zinchenko, E. Yu. (2022). Topical issues of the state migration policy of Russia. Education. The science. Scientific personnel, 2, 79-83. Retrieved from https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/aktualnye-voprosy-gosudarstvennoy-migratsionnoy-politiki-rossii

First Peer Review

Peer reviewers' evaluations remain confidential and are not disclosed to the public. Only external reviews, authorized for publication by the article's author(s), are made public. Typically, these final reviews are conducted after the manuscript's revision. Adhering to our double-blind review policy, the reviewer's identity is kept confidential.
The list of publisher reviewers can be found here.

The subject of the research in the article submitted for review is, as its name implies, illegal migration as a factor in the distribution of narcotic drugs. The stated boundaries of the study are observed by the author. The methodology of the research is not disclosed in the text of the article, but it is obvious that the scientists used universal dialectical, logical, historical, statistical, formal legal, comparative legal research methods. The relevance of the research topic chosen by the author is justified as follows: "Recently, the problem of illegal migration in the Russian Federation has become an urgent reason for the growth of drug addiction. In paragraph 48 of the Strategy of the State Anti-Drug Policy until 2020, an increase in the level of illegal migration and an increase in international crime with the emergence of new smuggling channels were among the uncontrolled risks that should be paid special attention to. It is noteworthy that in the new Strategy of the state Anti-Drug Policy of the Russian Federation for the period up to 2030, illegal migration no longer refers to risks and threats to national security, but only transnational criminal groups are mentioned. In other countries, the situation is almost identical, which is confirmed by official statistics [1] and international reports [2]. In this regard, it should be understood: in which cases does illegal migration threaten the narcosis of the country, undermining its security? The peculiarities of unmanageable risks are that the conditions of their occurrence are unknown, and the proven countermeasures are not clear and have not been formed. Illegal migration has all these signs [3]." Additionally, the author needs to list the names of the leading experts involved in the study of the problems raised in the article, as well as reveal the degree of their study. What is the scientific novelty of the study, the article does not say directly. In fact, it is missing. The author does not offer original definitions of scientific concepts, does not make recommendations on improving the current Russian legislation, etc. The article is purely descriptive in nature, representing a compilation of a number of sources used in its writing. This is partly confirmed by copious (as a rule, continuous) citations. As presented, the article does not make a special contribution to the development of domestic legal science. The scientific style of the research is fully sustained by the author. The structure of the article is not entirely logical in the sense that the final part of the study is practically absent (consists of a single sentence). In the introductory part of the work, the author substantiates the relevance of the chosen research topic. In the main part of the article, the author reveals the concept of "illegal migration", provides relevant statistical data, describes the threats posed by the problem of illegal migration, and offers a criminological portrait of a migrant criminal. The final part of the work contains general conclusions based on the results of the study. The content of the work generally corresponds to its title, but is not without a number of drawbacks. As already noted, the author abuses the citation, which confirms the non-independent nature of the study. The scientist writes about situations when "... migrants have a religion, culture, and lifestyle different from their host country, and their integration processes are difficult [9]. In this case, it is necessary to establish legal regulation of the system of integration of migrants into Russian society, providing them with the process of socialization [10]. Otherwise, the growth of communities, diasporas and isolated groups will be inevitable, the control of which will be difficult and even impossible. Examples of this already exist in world practice [11]." How can legal regulation contribute to the integration of migrants into Russian society? What needs to be changed first and in what directions? These provisions of the work need to be illustrated with specific examples. The author notes: "Since it is difficult for migrants to assimilate into a new country for them due to the lack of a high level of education, knowledge of the language, social skills, laws and peculiarities of life in the country, they are forced to "stick to their own" and unite in communities and diasporas that are almost not controlled by law enforcement agencies of the Russian Federation." Cases of "lack of control", which have a wide public response, are covered in the media. It is necessary to provide such examples. The scientist points out: "... migrants occupy unattractive niches for Russian citizens, thereby worsening social standards in the field of labor, bringing down the price of labor [13]. Thus, in regions where the proportion of migrants is higher, there is competition for jobs between the indigenous population and migrants, which causes social tension. This is especially evident in more developed regions, where migrants are willing to work for low salaries, and Russians refuse positions for a similar amount of remuneration." What are the "unattractive niches for Russians"? The bibliography of the study is presented by 20 sources (monographs, scientific articles, textbook, statistical and analytical data), including in English. From a formal point of view, this is enough. From the actual point of view, the author failed to disclose the research topic with the necessary depth and completeness. Many of the provisions of the work need to be specified and illustrated with examples. There is an appeal to the opponents, but it is of a general nature. Basically, the author refers to the sources used in writing the article solely to confirm his judgments. The scientist does not enter into a scientific discussion with specific opponents. The provisions of the work are not always justified properly. There are conclusions based on the results of the study ("Analyzing the current situation with migration flows [20], we have to admit that illegal migration and the accompanying drug addiction of citizens of the country should relate to risks and threats to national security, focusing on expanding the forces and means of combating this phenomenon"), but they are formulated very briefly (they fit only in one sentence). Firstly, the introduction and conclusion in the article should overlap as a question and answer, and the answer should be reasoned; secondly, the final part of the article should reflect all the scientific achievements of the author on the problem under study. The article needs additional proofreading. There are typos in it. The interest of the readership in the article submitted for review can be shown primarily by specialists in the field of constitutional law, migration law, criminal law, criminology, provided that it is substantially improved: disclosure of the research methodology, additional justification of its relevance, introduction of elements of scientific novelty and discussion, clarification of certain provisions of the article, concretization of conclusions based on the results of the conducted research research, elimination of violations in the design of the work.

Second Peer Review

Peer reviewers' evaluations remain confidential and are not disclosed to the public. Only external reviews, authorized for publication by the article's author(s), are made public. Typically, these final reviews are conducted after the manuscript's revision. Adhering to our double-blind review policy, the reviewer's identity is kept confidential.
The list of publisher reviewers can be found here.

A REVIEW of an article on the topic "Illegal migration as a factor in the distribution of narcotic drugs". The subject of the study. The article proposed for review is devoted to topical issues of illegal migration. The author considers illegal migration as a factor in the distribution of narcotic drugs, citing original arguments in support of his position. The subject of the study was statistical data, opinions of scientists, provisions of normative legal acts. Research methodology. The purpose of the study is not stated directly in the article. At the same time, it can be clearly understood from the title and content of the work. The goal can be designated as the consideration and resolution of certain problematic aspects of the issue of illegal migration as a factor in the distribution of narcotic drugs. Based on the set goals and objectives, the author has chosen a methodological basis for the study. In particular, the author uses a set of general scientific methods of cognition: analysis, synthesis, analogy, deduction, induction, and others. In particular, the methods of analysis and synthesis made it possible to summarize and share the conclusions of various scientific approaches to the proposed topic, as well as draw specific conclusions from the materials of practice. The most important role was played by special legal methods. In particular, the author actively applied the formal legal method, which made it possible to analyze and interpret the norms of current legislation (first of all, the norms of various acts of the Russian Federation). For example, the following conclusion of the author: "In paragraph 48 of the Strategy of the State Anti-Drug Policy until 2020, an increase in the level of illegal migration and an increase in international crime with the emergence of new smuggling channels referred to uncontrolled risks that should have been paid special attention to. It is noteworthy that in the new Strategy of the state Anti-Drug Policy of the Russian Federation for the period up to 2030, illegal migration no longer refers to risks and threats to national security, but only transnational criminal groups are mentioned." The possibilities of an empirical research method related to the study and generalization of empirical data should be positively assessed. For example, the following conclusion was made: "In 2021 alone, 327 criminal cases were initiated against, for example, Kyrgyz people under Article 228 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, which is 60% more than in the previous 2020 (against 191 cases). For example, in the Kursk region in 2021, 30 foreign citizens were detained for crimes related to drug trafficking, 5% of all detainees were citizens from Central Asia." Thus, the methodology chosen by the author is fully adequate to the purpose of the study, allows you to study all aspects of the topic in its entirety. Relevance. The relevance of the stated issues is beyond doubt. There are both theoretical and practical aspects of the significance of the proposed topic. From the point of view of theory, the topic of drug distribution factors is complex and ambiguous. As the author shows, by referring to documents and practice materials, there is an ambiguous understanding of how to consider the factor of illegal migration, how it should be used by a law enforcement officer, what economic, social, political aspects for this factor, etc. The author is right to highlight this aspect of relevance. The practical examples provided by the author in the article, including statistical data, clearly demonstrate this issue. Thus, scientific research in the proposed field should only be welcomed. Scientific novelty. The scientific novelty of the proposed article is beyond doubt. Firstly, it is expressed in the author's specific conclusions. Among them, for example, is the following conclusion: "The socio-legal aspect is focused on analyzing the formation of special labor markets in which only migrants are employed: their main threat is that migrants occupy unattractive niches for Russian citizens, thereby worsening social standards in the field of labor, bringing down the price of labor [13]. Thus, in regions where the proportion of migrants is higher, there is competition for jobs between the indigenous population and migrants, which causes social tension. This is especially evident in more developed regions, where migrants are willing to work for low salaries, and Russians refuse positions for a similar amount of remuneration. This situation leads to a forced increase in salaries and additional business costs, or, conversely, during periods of unemployment, Russians are ready to accept low wages, which leads to a general drop in living standards." These and other theoretical conclusions can be used in further scientific research. Secondly, the author has proposed original generalizations of statistical data, which may be useful to specialists in the declared field of research. Thus, the materials of the article may be of particular interest to the scientific community in terms of contributing to the development of science. Style, structure, content. The subject of the article corresponds to the specialization of the journal "Security Issues", as it is devoted to legal problems related to the study of the factors of distribution of narcotic drugs. The content of the article fully corresponds to the title, as the author considered the stated problems and achieved the research goal. The quality of the presentation of the study and its results should be recognized as fully positive. The subject, objectives, methodology and main results of the study follow directly from the text of the article. The design of the work generally meets the requirements for this kind of work. No significant violations of these requirements were found. Bibliography. The quality of the literature used should be highly appreciated. The author actively uses the literature presented by authors from Russia (Zipunnikov D.A., Kokunova S.D., Andreev A.P., Lampadova S.S., Bilsborrow R.E., Hugo G., Oberai A.S. and Zlotnik H. and others). Thus, the works of the above authors correspond to the research topic, have a sign of sufficiency, and contribute to the disclosure of various aspects of the topic. Appeal to opponents. The author conducted a serious analysis of the current state of the problem under study. All quotes from scientists are accompanied by author's comments. That is, the author shows different points of view on the problem and tries to argue for a more correct one in his opinion. Conclusions, the interest of the readership. The conclusions are fully logical, as they are obtained using a generally accepted methodology. The article may be of interest to the readership in terms of the systematic positions of the author in relation to the interpretation of the problems stated in it. Based on the above, summing up all the positive and negative sides of the article, "I recommend publishing"