The new bans imposed on the migrants working in Russia will cause a massive return of the Moldovan workers home, while their dissatisfaction may influence the results of the parliamentary elections. In other years, the election date didn’t coincide with bank holidays or periods when the Moldovans usually come home. Few of them voted while in Russia, says a study of the situation of Moldovan workers in Russia, carried out by the Institute for Development and Social Initiatives “Viitorul”, IPN reports.

According to the Institute’s experts, the Moldovans deported from Russia and those who will be unable to work as profitably as until now may form a ‘critical mass’ and show their disappointment with the current government. This situation may be advantageous to some of the political forces that can use these circumstances to stir things up in the electoral period.

A number of changes to Russia’s legislation will limit the period of stay for migrants who do not have patents or work permits to 90 days within six months. Another amendment bans the use of foreign driver’s licenses from this May. A law that took effect on December 1, 2013 stipulates that the migrants who will want to work in the public utilities, trade and service sectors will have to take an exam in the Russian language. When they show that they know Russian, they will be issued with a work permit or the permit they have will be extended.

The experts of “Viitorul” said that one quarter of the Moldovans in Russia will have an unstable job or will become unemployed following the new bans imposed on migrants. 245,000 Moldovan workers risk being banned from entering Russia.