He said corresponding assignments had been given to a number of the Duma committees following a terrorist attack on a Moscow metro train last Friday. “It is important not only to consider tougher punishment for terrorist activities, but also to discuss proposals on the prevention of terrorism,” Mr. Gryzlov stressed.

According to him, deputies are offering many proposals, including measures against illegal migration.

More than 9,500 illegal migrants had been deported from Moscow last year, said Lieutenant-General Vladimir Pronin, chief of the Moscow police. He said it was the largest deportation of illegal migrants over the past few years. “The Moscow police used tough methods, but it acted in accordance with the law,” Lieut.-Gen. Pronin noted.

Five stations checking the identity of foreign migrants have operated in Moscow since last year. Lieut.-Gen. Pronin said 70 percent of those detained did not have identity documents. According to him, they purposefully destroy their documents in order to complicate the identification procedure and remain in Russia as long as possible.