A database of fingerprints and genetic material would help tackle the problem, believes Bastrykin. He also suggested harsher punishments for violations of migration legislation.

Earlier, Bastrykin criticized the Russian Federal Migration Service for doing a bad job. He said officers of the service are failing to deport many illegal migrants, and also accused the body of widespread corruption.

Human rights activists are not thrilled about the initiative, saying it leaves many questions to be asked first.

“It’s a pretty strange suggestion. I, for instance, have absolutely no idea how they will tell migrant workers from tourists, and why tourists should not be fingerprinted while migrant workers should be,” said Lev Ponomarev, a renowned Russian activist, as cited by the newspaper Gazeta.

Tim Wall, editor-in-chief of the Moscow News newspaper, said with this measure Russia joins in this increasingly common world practice.

“I think that it is a kind of continuation of the process worldwide where big brother is always watching you,” he said. “Can we do anything about it as individuals? Probably not.”

Many countries, including the US and Britain, for the sake of security started taking fingerprints of everyone arriving in the country after the 9/11 attacks and other acts of terror.