FSB Exposes Massive Scheme of Forged Employment Contracts for Migrants in Russia

The Federal Security Service (FSB) of Russia has revealed a significant operation aimed at the illegal legalization of migrants, which involved the falsification of employment contracts for over 53,000 foreign individuals in Moscow and its surrounding areas, as reported by Interfax on Wednesday.

Twelve Russian nationals have been detained pending trial on charges related to the organization of illegal migration.

If convicted of these charges, they could face prison sentences of up to a decade.

Among the arrested individuals is a 37-year-old man native to Odesa, a city in southwestern Ukraine. During searches, FSB agents discovered various Bulgarian and Ukrainian passports in his possession, the agency noted.

Interfax did not release any video evidence of the arrests.

The group is accused of facilitating the unlawful legalization of 53,197 foreign nationals in the city of Moscow and its vicinity.

The FSB stated that those who obtained the forged employment contracts have been identified and will face deportation from Russia, along with a ban on future re-entry.

Following the Crocus City Hall attack in March 2024, Russia has increased its scrutiny of its migrant workforce by tightening immigration regulations, imposing local and regional employment restrictions in certain sectors, and escalating deportation efforts.

Migrant workers in Russia mainly come from the Central Asian countries of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan, as well as Armenia in the South Caucasus region.

Last month, Russian police reported that they had identified over 128,000 instances of violations of migration laws so far in 2025. More than 19,000 administrative actions have been taken regarding the expulsion and deportation of foreigners from Russia.

Additionally, around 4,800 criminal cases related to the facilitation of illegal migration have been initiated during the same timeframe, according to the Russian Interior Ministry.