Ukraine plans tougher migration policy amid "security threats"

KIEV, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has signed a decree ordering the cabinet to develop legislation on strengthening the country's migration policy amid the "threats to national security," the presidential press service said Wednesday in a statement.

According to the decree published on the presidential website, the government has to develop a mechanism under which foreigners from certain countries have to inform the Ukrainian authorities beforehand about their visit to Ukraine.

The new rules will apply to citizens from about 70 countries in Ukraine's list of the states with a high migration risk.

Besides, the president has instructed the government to develop new rules for the registration of foreigners entering Ukraine on the state border control points.

This year, Ukraine has already strengthened the control over the entry and the departure of foreigners to ensure the state security.

On Jan. 1, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine has begun to gather biometric data from foreign citizens from the "high migration risk" states at the country's border points. Enditem