News

Mr. Alexander Ivanovich Bastrykin, Chairman of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, held a brief meeting via videoconference. The meeting was attended by the First Deputy and Deputy Chairmen of the Investigative Committee of Russia, Heads of Divisions of the Main Directorate, Regional Investigative Bodies, and Departmental Educational Institutions.

Issues of crime investigations committed by migrants and in the migration sphere were discussed at the meeting. In Russia, an increase in the crime of foreign citizens is recorded annually: in 2021 - by 6%, this year - it is already fixed by 10%. Crime of migrants is high in the Moscow region, and in St. Petersburg, Chelyabinsk, Kurgan, Kaluga and Leningrad Oblasts.

The Head of the Department noted an increase in serious and especially serious crimes committed by migrants by more than a third, murders - by 16%, rapes - by 12% among them. In the past period of 2022, all Law Enforcement Agencies investigated 37 thousand crimes of migrants, while about 60% of them were committed by residents of the Central Asian Republics.

The Investigative Authorities of the Investigative Committee sent to court 1,633 cases of crimes committed by migrants.

The Investigating Authorities are investigating criminal cases against Officials who have committed corruption crimes in the field of migration relations, along with crimes committed by foreign citizens themselves. Thus, 75 Officers of the relevant Directorates were held responsible for violations of migration legislation.

Mr. A.I. Bastrykin noted the shortcomings in the work of the Heads of the Investigative Directorates of the Investigative Committee of Russia in Bryansk, Ivanovo and Ryazan Oblasts, emphasizing the inadmissibility of violating reasonable terms in criminal proceedings when investigating criminal cases of this category.

The Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia instructed all Heads of Territorial Investigative Directorates to use the capabilities of existing databases for registering foreign citizens and stateless persons more actively. Mr. A.I. Bastrykin drew attention to the importance of preventive work in this area. This year, investigators for crimes committed by foreigners and stateless persons made 1,484 submissions on the elimination of the causes and conditions that contributed to the commission of crimes.

The Heads of Territorial Investigative Divisions are focused on implementing a set of necessary measures to ensure the detection of crimes committed by migrants, and on taking measures to verify the legitimacy of obtaining documents that confirm the right of foreign citizens to stay on the Russian Federation territory. In particular, Mr. A.I. Bastrykin noted the importance of revealing the facts of illegal receipt of certificates for Russian language knowledge by migratnts, including through bribing Officials. "You should pay attention to those people whom a migrant arrives with on the territory of the Russian Federation, whom he/she lives with, whom he/she communicates with, what area he/she operates in," added the Chairman of the Russian Investigative Committee.

It is also prescribed to systematically monitor all announcements and job offers for migrants placed in various services, where Employers use their labor, and the ones which are posted in the public space, and it is prescribed to take measures to curb illegal activities too. For these purposes, thematic personal receptions should be held.

The Head of the Department heard a report by Major General of Justice Igor Anatolyevich Litvinov, Head of the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia for Kaluga Oblast, who recognized the mentioned comments as justified and presented his plan to eliminate the shortcomings in criminal investigations committed in the migration field.

Lieutenant-General of Justice Sergey Tikhonovich Sazin, Head of the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia for Leningrad Oblast, reported on the measures taken to improve the quality of work in this area. In addition, he reported to the Head of the Department on the criminal case launched on the abuse of power and fictitious registration of foreign citizens at the place of residence, where the Inspector of the Migration Department of the Regional Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia and her acquaintance were detained within the criminal investigation.

Mr. A.I. Bastrykin also heard a report by Major General of Justice Anatoly Viktorovich Sitnikov, Head of the Investigative Directorate of the Russian Investigative Committee for Irkutsk Oblast, who reported on the reasons for the inadequate level of preventive activities and the measures taken to increase it.

In turn, Major General of Justice Sergey Yuryevich Mikhailov, Head of the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia for Ulyanovsk Oblast, reported on the progress and results on the investigation of specific criminal cases and the practice of considering them by court.

After listening to the reports of his Subordinates, Mr. A.I. Bastrykin gave a number of instructions. In particular, the Head of the Department instructed to inform the Heads of the mentioned Regions about the situation in the field of migration crime. Also, on the instruction of the Chairman of the Investigative Committee, a letter will be sent to the Minister of Internal Affairs of Russia about the improper response of a number of Territorial Heads of Internal Affairs Bodies to the investigators' submissions on taking measures to eliminate the circumstances that contributed to the commission of crimes by foreign citizens.