"Losses from illegal migration amount to more than 200 billion [rubles] a year, according to the most modest estimates," Konstantin Romodanovsky told a round table on demography in the lower house of the Russian parliament.
Romodanovsky rejected the opinion of some experts that migrants from Russian-speaking countries could help alleviate the country's demographic problem, which has been in the spotlight following President Vladimir Putin's state of the nation address May 10.
"Today migrants are not interested in establishing long-term relations with Russia. They pursue economic goals to support their families in the countries of their citizenship," Romodanovsky said, adding that Russia should focus on measures to repatriate Russian citizens, and create conditions for Russians living abroad to return.
Putin called the decline in Russia's population - which he said was falling by 700,000 people a year - the country's biggest problem in his address earlier this month. He also said a sensible migration policy could help solve the problem.
"We need to encourage an inflow of qualified migrants, educated and law-abiding people," he said, adding that people who came to work and live in Russia should have respect for Russian culture and traditions.
