Events

Chairman of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, Alexander Ivanovich Bastrykin, held an operational meeting via video conference on the investigation of high-profile crimes committed by migrants. The meeting was attended by the First Deputy and Deputy Chairmen of the Russian Investigative Committee, heads of central departments, heads of regional investigative offices and military investigative bodies of the Committee across military districts.

During the meeting, the current migration situation was assessed. In the first eight months of 2024, more than 26,000 crimes have been committed by foreign nationals (across all law enforcement agencies), with a 12% increase in serious offenses by migrants compared to the same period last year. The number of crimes committed by illegal migrants has nearly tripled, from 2,880 to 8,059. Crimes committed by labor migrants has also risen from 5,868 to 9,708. Additionally, the number of crimes committed by migrants who obtained Russian citizenship less than ten years ago has increased from 7,000 to 11,000.

This year, 73 extremist acts have been committed by migrants, compared to 59 the previous year. In practice, many migrants justify their extremist beliefs with religious views. Moreover, they often openly express negative attitudes towards the local population, including participants and veterans of the special military operation, as well as law enforcement personnel.

The Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia listened to reports from regional investigative department heads in areas with particularly tense migration situations, where the number and nature of crimes committed by migrants raise concern.

The head of the Main Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee for Moscow, A.A. Strizhov, reported on the most high-profile incidents involving migrants. He outlined the progress and results of criminal investigations into illegal migration networks, uncovering cases of illegal residence of foreign nationals in the Moscow region and their unjustified acquisition of Russian citizenship through simplified procedures. It was noted that such crimes are often facilitated by the inaction of authorized officials from law enforcement and regulatory agencies.

The acting head of the Main Investigative Directorate for the Moscow Region, Ya.A. Yakovlev, reported on the investigation of a traffic accident in the village of Lopatino, Moscow region, caused by a native of Tajikistan. The accident sparked significant public outcry due to the offender's aggressive behavior and the delayed response of law enforcement. Despite the initial decision by Deputy Prosecutor of Vidnoe, S.S. Peshkhoev, to call off the initiation of a criminal case, the case has been reopened, and the investigation is thoroughly examining the circumstances of the incident.

Reports by the acting head of the Main Investigative Directorate for St. Petersburg, O.V. Bobkov, and the acting head of the Investigative Directorate for Sverdlovsk Region, K.V. Miroshnichenko, addressed the investigation of crimes committed by migrants against sexual integrity of minors.

The Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia also listened to the report from the head of the Investigative Directorate for Orenburg Region, V.D. Zuderman, on the investigation of a criminal case involving a citizen of Azerbaijan. The woman had inflicted bodily harm on minors in a playground following misunderstandings between them and her children.