The meeting of the Coordination Council of the Heads of the Competent Authorities of the CSTO Member States on Combating Illegal Migration was held for the first time via videoconferencing

On November 26, 2020, at the CSTO Crisis Response Center, chaired by the First Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, Police Colonel-General Alexander Gorovoy, the 23rd meeting of the Coordination Council of the Heads of the Competent Authorities of the CSTO Member States on Combating Illegal Migration was held for the first time via videoconferencing. A.V. Gorovoy was unanimously re-elected for a new three-year term.

The CSTO Deputy Secretary General Valery Semerikov took part in the meeting of the Coordination Council of the Heads of the Competent Authorities of the CSTO Member States on Combating Illegal Migration. In his welcoming speech, he emphasized: “The rapid proliferation of the coronavirus has changed the way of life practically all over the world, and therefore, at the suggestion of the Russian side, today's meeting is being held in a new, unusual format for the Coordination Council - via videoconferencing.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is one of the most pressing challenges to our states. At the same time, it is already possible to say with confidence that our states are going through this difficult period with dignity. "

In addition, V.A. Semerikov suggested in the future, on a mandatory basis, within the framework of the Coordination Council of the Heads of the Competent Authorities of the CSTO Member States on Combating Illegal Migration activities, to comprehensively analyze the impact of the pandemic in the migration sphere and develop collective approaches to interaction within the framework of the CSTO in the field of ensuring migration security in the event of similar situations.

In the course of further work, when discussing the issues on the Agenda, the participants of the meeting emphasized that in the context of a pandemic, the migration situation in the states, despite the difficulties encountered with the stay of foreign citizens, generally remains stable and controlled. The legislative measures adopted in our countries in the migration sphere, in connection with the spread of COVID-19, were timely and had a positive result.

The participants in the Coordination Council of the Heads of the Competent Authorities of the CSTO Member States on Combating Illegal Migration meeting positively assessed the results of the work done in the reporting period to control migration processes and counter illegal migration, and also confirmed the need to further unite efforts in order to comprehensively counter illegal migration and stressed the need for the CSTO Illegal regional operation in 2021.

Following the meeting of the Coordinating Council, a report of proceedings at a meeting was signed and it is planed to hold the next meeting of the Coordination Council of the Heads of the Competent Authorities of the CSTO Member States on Combating Illegal Migration in 2021 in the Republic of Tajikistan, to which the chairmanship of the CSTO passes.