MOSCOW, February 22 - RAPSI. The Federal Migration Service has suggested banning foreigners from entering Russia for five years if they have violated migration law twice.

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said in January that habitual migration lawbreakers and individuals expelled from Russia by court decision should be banned from entering the country for 5 to 10 years. Under current legislation, a two year ban is imposed.

Migration service head Konstantin Romodanovsky also said foreigners should be punished more severely for breaching the law, as the current term of punishment is too short.

"Our proposal is to restrict entrance for five years for those who broke the law twice and for 10 years for those who were expelled from the country," Romodanovsky said at a Federation Council on Wednesday.