DUSHANBE, August 9, 2013, Asia-Plus -- Most likely, mass raids to reveal illegal migrant workers in Moscow and Moscow oblast will be continued on the threshold of Moscow mayoral election scheduled for September 8, Muhammad Egamzod, an official representative of the Tajik Embassy in Moscow, told Asia-Plus in an interview.

“The migration situation in Russia will probably deteriorate ahead of the regional elections that will take place next month” said Egamzod.  “The Russian authorities want to introduce a proper order and ensure calm atmosphere during the regional elections.  Therefore, it cannot be ruled out that such raids will be continued.”

He also noted that  more than 1,000 people were detained at the Moscow Sadovod market on August 7.

According to him, the Tajik Embassy in Moscow has been taking measures to provide assistance to Tajik labor migrants, who are being held in Moscow''s Golyanovo tent camp.

“It is very difficult to send parcels (food products and warm clothing) to people being held in the tent camp because strict security and sanitary measures have been imposed,” Egamzod said.

Meanwhile, some media sources report that many detainees being held in Moscow''s Golyanovo tent camp say police are asking for money in exchange for food and simple necessities.

Observers say the raids are aimed at currying favor with nationalist-minded Russians ahead of the regional elections.

Russian migration authorities, however, argue that Russia is using the sweeps to rescue many migrants from squalor and abuse from slave-labor rings run by Central Asians themselves.  They have called for more than 80 detention centers to be built nationwide, signaling that the battle against illegal workers is gathering steam.