In all serious cases: the number of crimes committed by foreigners increased by 15%

Migrants in the Russian Federation have become much more likely to commit particularly serious crimes. This was stated at the St. Petersburg International Legal Forum (SPIEF) by Chairman of the Investigative Committee Alexander Bastrykin. While there was a slight decrease in this indicator last year, a sharp jump of 15% has been recorded since the beginning of 2025. The head of the TFR drew attention to the fact that not all migrants seek to integrate into Russian society, which is why their environment is radicalized. Therefore, he called for further tightening of legislation in this area, as well as for setting a priority for businesses to hire Russian citizens and increasing employers' responsibility for employees. What else was discussed at the SPIEF and what hinders the social adaptation of newcomers today is in the Izvestia article.

What crimes did migrants commit?

The number of crimes committed by foreign citizens in 2025 increased by 15% compared to the same period last year, said Alexander Bastrykin, head of the Investigative Committee of Russia, speaking at the SPIEF. Since the beginning of the year, the detection of particularly serious crimes committed by foreigners has increased by 65% (to 4,309), while serious crimes have decreased by only 4% (to 2,211).

"The number of criminal acts of migrants and their public danger remains high," he noted. — In 2024, there was a downward trend of 0.9%. In absolute terms, these are 38.9 thousand crimes in 2023 and 38.6 thousand (in 2024. — Ed.) What's going on this year? According to the results of January-March 2025, unfortunately, there has been an increase in the number of crimes committed by foreign citizens — from 10.8 thousand to 12.4 thousand.

Most of the detected crimes — 65% — are related to drug trafficking (this is more than 4.2 thousand cases). According to the head of the Investigative Committee, the number of sexual crimes committed by migrants is also high — 69 cases of rape since the beginning of the year, 50 cases of sexual intercourse with children under 16 years of age.

"And the number of indecent acts against children has increased by almost 20%,— he stressed. — The increase in crimes against minors was 38%. Terrorist activity is also growing.

According to the chairman of the TFR, in the first quarter of this year, migrants committed 2.7 times more terrorist crimes than in the first three months of 2024.

He paid special attention to the tragedy at Crocus City Hall, which occurred in March 2024.

—This terrorist attack was committed by Tajik migrants," Alexander Bastrykin pointed out. "19 people were arrested, 2.3 thousand people are victims, the criminal case has more than 500 volumes. The case will be sent to court soon.

The radicalization of the migration environment, the head of the TFR emphasized, has become a characteristic feature of recent times.

"There are many migrants who do not seek to integrate into our society," he said. — The entry into the territory of Russia of adherents of radical movements of Islam to spread terrorist ideas among compatriots, their recruitment, preparation for terrorist attacks is increasing.

How migration policy is being tightened

During the year, the UK made 18 proposals to improve migration legislation, said Alexander Bastrykin. He stated that Russia needs to introduce mandatory biometric registration of all incoming foreigners. A similar pilot project has now been launched at the airports of the Moscow air hub. In addition, a "foreign citizen card" is being introduced in the border areas and Moscow — it is intended for temporary migrants who have reached the age of 14.

"Genomic registration of migrants, as well as voice recordings, has also been carried out as an experiment for the capital," the head of the Investigative Committee added. — So far, it is exclusively voluntary.

He recalled that last year the responsibility for the legalization of migrants and forgery of documents for this purpose was tightened. The organization of illegal migration, committed in a group of individuals, was singled out as a separate structure. By the end of 2024, 707 cases were initiated against Interior Ministry employees in these compounds, 243 were sent to court (99 of them for accepting bribes, 40 for organizing illegal migration, 10 for fictitious registration).

"The main reasons that drive law enforcement officers to commit crimes are self—interest, affiliation with criminal groups and improper performance of official duties," the head of the TFR emphasized.

During his speech, Alexander Bastrykin addressed business representatives, saying that the employer should pay for the stay of migrants who came to work in the country. He also stated this at the SPIEF in 2024.

— We have regions with huge unemployment: Pskov, Vologda regions, Karelia, — said the head of the Investigative Committee. — [It is necessary] to bring Russian citizens to work from there. It is necessary to establish requirements for employers to hire our citizens first, and only then migrants.

Now the task of expelling illegal migrants from the country lies with the state, recalled the chairman of the TFR and said that, in his opinion, entrepreneurs should be responsible for workers hired from abroad.

— At the end of the employment agreement, after the expiration of the limitation period, he (the migrant. — Ed.) departs to his homeland. Most importantly, no wives, husbands, grandparents, or children. He comes here to work. And let the entrepreneur pay for all this," said the head of the TFR.

Alexander Bastrykin also reproached officials for the fact that none of them could name the exact number of migrants that Russia needed. He expressed the same idea in 2024.

What additional measures will be taken

Almost all participants of the SPIEF session devoted to the migration process spoke in favor of tightening migration policy.

— The latest version of the migration policy is seven years ago. And the circumstances have changed significantly," said Andrei Klishas, Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Constitutional Legislation.

Now, according to him, legislation in the field of migration is spot-on.

"It's not tied to the ultimate goal, which it should be," he said. — And it should be determined, first of all, by the government together with the parliament. Understanding of this issue is coming. I often hear proposals to create special laws for migrants and cultural autonomies, proposals that will destroy the unity of our legislation.

Andrey Klishas noted that religious and cultural enclaves are communities of people who refuse to live according to Russian laws, therefore it is extremely dangerous to create a separate legislative framework for them.

— Parasitizing the social infrastructure is in many ways what so many people come to Russia for. It's not hundreds of thousands, but millions. We are well aware that millions of people travel for this purpose: to get free education, medical care and social support," he said.

Russian schools will transmit to the Ministry of Internal Affairs data on migrant children who have not passed the test, said the head of Rosobrnadzor, Anzor Muzaev. According to him, if a child has failed the test, but the desire to enroll in an educational institution has not disappeared, then within three months his parents should, at their own expense, train a potential student and find courses for him. In April, Izvestia reported that such a bill was approved by the government commission on legislative activity.

In addition, Rosobrandzor proposed to introduce an oral part of testing migrants for knowledge of the Russian language. According to Anzor Muzaev, a model will soon be created in which adult foreigners will undergo an identical procedure.

"In the coming days, we will come out with a proposal to introduce an oral part, with a video recording where he voices his name, answers questions and conducts a dialogue," he said.

Kirill Kabanov, a member of the Human Rights Council, drew attention to the fact that migrants are not deprived of Russian citizenship, even if cases of their illegal legalization are initiated.

— Until we decide that it is easy to lose the status we have received, nothing will work, — he stressed.

Why is the number of crimes increasing

Ekaterina Kosareva, Managing Partner of the VMT Consult analytical agency, said that the increase in particularly serious crimes is particularly worrying. This trend indicates not only quantitative, but also qualitative changes: crimes are becoming more and more socially dangerous.

"This causes concern among citizens and naturally requires a harsh reaction from the state," the expert said. — It's not just about offenses, but about facts that directly affect the sense of security in society.

Criminal defense lawyer Tatiana Pashkevich said that the tightening of migration policy after the terrorist attack in Crocus City Hall led to an increase in the number of illegal immigrants who avoid legalization for fear of deportation.

"This increases their involvement in the shadow economy and crime," the expert said. — Experiments with biometrics and cards of foreigners have not yet had a systemic effect, as they cover only a part of migrants.

The increase in crime indicates an improvement in detection, says Vadim Kozhenov, an independent migration expert.

"But in any case, a significant number of crimes are not detected," he noted. — This is openly discussed everywhere. And of those that are revealed, not all are revealed either. Therefore, it is absolutely normal that after Crocus, the focus of attention shifted to migrants.

At the same time, the number of visitors to Russia decreased in 2025, he said.

For employers who bring migrants to the country, quotas or checks alone cannot solve the problem, Ekaterina Kosareva added. The system of adaptation of migrants in Russia, she believes, remains formal.

"There is no mandatory and effectively controlled mechanism for cultural integration in the country," the expert said.

Ekaterina Kutuzova, a lawyer at the Adyghe Republican Bar Association, recalled that the lack of a permanent job and stable income for migrants can force them to commit crimes for the sake of survival.

"In addition, incoming migrants often face discrimination, isolation and lack of support, which hinders their adaptation to new living conditions," she said.

There are many employers in the country who take migrants unofficially in order to save money and avoid paying taxes, Anna Alikova, an independent HR expert, recalled.

— They don't care about obligations at all. If strict rules are introduced, they will just start to fade into the shadows even more," she noted.

All the experts interviewed noted that systemic measures are needed to solve the problem of criminalization of the migration environment — compulsory education in the Russian language and the basics of Russian legislation, and built-in mechanisms for social adaptation.