MOSCOW, July 22, 2025 — Four Russian citizens of Azerbaijani origin have been arrested and sentenced in Moscow for their involvement in an organized criminal group that facilitated illegal migration through the fabrication of official documents, Russian authorities announced.
According to a statement from Russia’s National Guard (Rosgvardiya), the arrests followed a joint operation led by the Federal Security Service (FSB) with support from the OMON “Avangard” special forces unit. The group is believed to have illegally legalized more than 1,000 foreign nationals in the Moscow region, earning an estimated profit of over 2 million rubles (approximately 43,500 Azerbaijani manats).
The suspects, aged between 34 and 62, were found to be producing fake migration cards that allowed foreigners to stay in Russia for up to 90 days. They also allegedly issued fraudulent work permits known as “patents,” enabling migrants to claim legal employment status.
Authorities discovered and dismantled two underground labs used to produce the counterfeit documents. Confiscated materials included printing equipment, client databases, migration cards, forged organizational seals, passports of Central Asian citizens, and other incriminating evidence.
All four individuals have been found guilty and sentenced to prison terms ranging from two to five years. They will serve their sentences in general-regime correctional colonies, according to the official statement.
The case underscores Russia’s ongoing crackdown on illegal migration networks and highlights the government’s intent to tighten documentation controls in major urban centers.
