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The Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia holds a brief video conferencing meeting

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

At the meeting, the Heads of the Investigative Divisions of the Investigative Committee of Russia were heard about their work in the field of combating migration crime. The Head of the Department noted that the number of crimes committed by foreign citizens and stateless persons is steadily increasing. The greatest number of such crimes is observed on the territory of the Moscow region. Thus, all Law Enforcement Agencies of the city of Moscow (according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia) investigated 7,235 of these crimes in 2021 (an increase of 10.5%), which is one fifth of the acts committed by migrants in the country. Over the eleven months of this year, 7219 crimes have already been investigated, where each third ones are serious and especially serious. Mr. A.I. Bastrykin stressed that Moscow ranks second in the Russian Federation in terms of migration crime.

Moscow Oblast ranks first in the country in terms of migration crime (72 per 100,000 inhabitants). This year, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, the number of migrant crimes investigated by Law Enforcement Agencies in the region increased by 9% and amounted to more than five thousand, a quarter of each are serious and especially serious acts. Also in 2022, the number of acts committed by "illegal immigrants" tripled in Moscow Oblast. The number of crimes committed by migrant laborers increased by a third.

In terms of migration crime, St. Petersburg ranks third in the Russian Federation. Thus, according to the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs, at the beginning of December 2022, the Law Enforcement Agencies of the city investigated almost three thousand crimes committed by migrants, every fourth of each is serious or especially serious. The number of crimes committed by illegal migrants has multiplied.

In accordance with the established jurisdiction, the Investigative Divisions of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for Moscow, Moscow Oblast and St. Petersburg sent to court 593 criminal cases on crimes committed by migrants. 654 foreign citizens were brought to criminal responsibility.

Major-General of Justice Andrey Alexandrovich Strizhov, Head of the Main Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia for the city of Moscow, cited statistical data on the number of migrants living in the capital and the crimes they committed. He also announced the results of preventive measures carried out jointly with the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for Moscow.

Major General of Justice Alexander Yuryevich Starikov, Head of the Main Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for Moscow Oblast, reported on the measures taken to reduce the time for investigating criminal cases of this category and improve the quality of the investigation. He also highlighted aspects of interdepartmental cooperation aimed at uncovering and investigating crimes in the field of migration, including corruption.

Major General of Justice Marina Grigoryevna Parastaeva, Acting Head of the Main Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia for St. Petersburg, reported statistical data on persons registered with migration, and also provided information on the characteristic categories of persons entering the Northern capital. The analysis carried out makes it possible to determine trends in the formation of a picture of crime, which contributes to an increase in the effectiveness of ongoing preventive work.

After listening to the reports of his subordinates, Mr. A.I. Bastrykin criticized the Heads of the Main Investigative Directorates of these regions and gave a number of instructions, emphasizing: "Be active in this matter!" In particular, he instructed to prepare information for being sent to the Heads of these entities, the General Prosecutor's Office of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, as well as for sending this information to the Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in Northwestern Federal Okrug about existing problems in the migration sphere.

Separately, the Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia dwelled on the issues of interaction with the public, consideration of citizens' appeals and response to messages from the media and social media. The Head of the Department negatively assessed the work of the Investigation Directorates in Kaluga, Irkutsk, Tver and Saratov Oblasts, as well as the Main Investigative Directorates of the Russian Investigative Committee in Moscow, Moscow Oblast and St. Petersburg in this area, noting the need for an immediate response to user comments in social networks.

So, Mr. A.I. Bastrykin instructed to conduct a check on the information on the social network about the lack of transport links with the village of Verkholensk in Irkutsk Oblast, where transport links across the Lena River were disrupted due to the destruction of the pontoon bridge. Local residents are forced to move on the ice because of the inaction of the authorities, and a long wait for medical assistance poses a threat to their life and health. At the same time, the Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of Russia for Irkutsk Oblast did not detect any grounds for launching a procedural inspection on this fact in a timely manner.

Also, the Chairman of the Investigative Committee made a subject to his control the criminal investigation launched in connection with an appeal on a social network by a resident of Tver Oblast, who is raising a disabled child. The woman independently purchased the necessary medical supplies for a significant amount of money, but the costs incurred by her are not reimbursed for a long time. In addition, information was posted in the media about a man, who was not provided with medicines, he is observed by the Toropetsk Central Raion Hospital. At the same time, his appeal did not receive a timely response from the Investigative Directorate of the Russian Investigative Committee for Tver Oblast.

Mr. A.I. Bastrykin pointed out to his subordinates the inadmissibility of inaction on reports and appeals about possible violations of the rights of citizens. He demanded that the Heads of the Territorial Investigative Bodies immediately monitor the existing problems in the region and promptly respond in order to eliminate them.