July 13, 2025 — Baku / Moscow
Namig Musayev, head of the linear police department at the international airport in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, has been detained as part of a criminal investigation into an illegal migration network. The arrest was confirmed by the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs’ Transport Directorate for the Volga Federal District.
According to reporting by RBC and local outlet Kstati, Musayev is suspected of organizing and overseeing a scheme involving at least 12 police officers. The operation allegedly facilitated unlawful border crossings in exchange for bribes, with roles within the group carefully divided — some officers reportedly handled cash transactions while others executed illicit orders from their superior.
The investigation was initiated jointly by Russia’s Transport Police Internal Security Unit and the Federal Security Service (FSB) in the Nizhny Novgorod region.
Musayev has been charged under Article 322 (illegal border crossing) and Article 286 (abuse of official powers) of the Russian Criminal Code. A regional court has ordered him held in pre-trial detention for two months.
Although Russian officials have not commented on Musayev’s background, multiple independent sources confirm that he is of Azerbaijani origin. His arrest is being closely followed in both Russia and Azerbaijan, where the case has sparked media interest due to the international dimension and the seniority of the officer involved.
The investigation is ongoing.
