A Russian government order requiring all labour migrants entering Moscow or Moscow region on a visa-free basis to download the “Amina” app, providing authorities with geolocation data, is reportedly causing much apprehension among nationals from Central Asia, the South Caucasus and Moldova.

The Sakharovo Multifunctional Registration Centre has advised all such labour migrants that they must have Amina, which tracks the user’s exact location for the Russian foreign and internal affairs ministries, on their mobile phone by September 1.

Many migrants are worried by the authorities’ demand for strict compliance with the app-based system and are contacting embassy staff and lawyers with various questions, RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz-language Azattyk media outlet reported on August 27.

Russia has plans to extend Amina nationwide if the Moscow trial proves a success.

Azattyk reported: “Currently, migrants are looking for answers to questions such as, ‘Will the introduction of this application invalidate previous registrations [of my presence and residence in Russia]? What should I do if I lose my phone with the application?”

A 25-year-old Kyrgyz migrant who works as an online clothing seller in Moscow was quoted as saying: "Everyone is reacting differently. Some are worried and are going to their relatives in other cities [where Amina is not yet required] until the situation is clarified and determined. Most are waiting with bated breath to see what will happen.

“I'm young and understand technology, but I don't know how others will register. For example, this application is not yet available for iPhones. And what if a person loses their phone or the internet goes down on the day of registration?"