The Yuzhno-Sakhalin City Court handed down sentences to eight residents of the Sakhalin region in a case tied to organizing illegal migration. The information was relayed by RIA Novosti, citing the regional department of the Federal Security Service.
According to the court decision, the organizer of the illicit activity was sentenced to five years in prison; the two most active participants received sentences ranging from three and a half to four years. The remaining defendants were given suspended imprisonment for a period of two to three and a half years, taking into account pre-trial cooperation agreements that had been signed.
Investigators found that members of the group coordinated the illegal stay of foreigners in Russia in exchange for money. Specifically, they supplied those individuals with fictitious business and civil law contracts, and the price for the service was up to 30 thousand rubles.
As a result of the incident, a lawsuit was filed over the organization of illegal immigration. The FSB emphasized that law enforcement agencies are taking steps to revoke the citizenship of people who had contact with the defendant in connection with the case.
On January 17 in Moscow, police detained three entrepreneurs who operated under the cover of hairdressing services and phone repair. They had established a network at the Prince Plaza shopping center to facilitate the legalization of illegal immigrants. Reporters noted that the detainees produced fake immigration cards, notification forms, and stamps used for border crossings.
Earlier, police operations led to the liquidation of 70 shelters housing illegal immigrants in Moscow.