Stricter labor migrant regulations in Russia should not apply to citizens of Kyrgyzstan as a member of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), Kyrgyz Deputy Prime Minister Edil Baisalov said on a social network, according to Interfax.

He further noted that they believe that these and other amendments and restrictions discussed by the Russian State Duma do not apply to citizens of Kyrgyzstan.

“According to the fundamental principles of the EAEU, our citizens have free and equal access to the labor market. In the event of other interpretations and equating our citizens with migrants from third countries, it will be very difficult for us to explain the reason for being an EAEU member to our people," Baisalov noted.

He was referring to the bills amending the rules for foreign citizens' presence on Russian territory.  For instance, plans exist to ban the employment of labor migrants at schools and preschool establishments, healthcare and pharmaceutical establishments, and passenger transport companies and from engaging in certain types of activity that yield an income higher than average or may be in demand by Russian citizens.