Resident of Apatitov tightened the punishment regime for organizing illegal migration

The Murmansk regional court has changed the sentence of a resident of Apatitov, convicted for organizing the illegal stay of foreigners in Russia. On the recommendation of the Prosecutor’s office, instead of a colony of general regime, the man will be sent to a strict regime colony. This was reported in the Prosecutor’s office of the Murmansk region.

The criminal scheme operated from November 2022 to April 2025. A resident of Apatitov, together with a woman from Monchegorsk and a third participant, was looking for foreigners willing to pay for fictitious civil contracts. On the basis of these documents, migrants were extended their stay in Russia.

The woman produced contracts and notices with knowingly false information about employment. She signed documents on behalf of employers and sent them to the Migration Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia in the Murmansk region. However, foreigners did not actually work for any of these employers.

Earlier, the court sentenced a resident of Monchegorsk to five years in prison in a general regime colony, and a resident of Apatitov to three years in a general regime colony.

Lawyers of the convicts asked the appellate instance to change the qualification of actions and mitigate the punishment. However, the court dismissed their complaints. At the same time, on the proposal of the prosecutor, the regime of serving a sentence for a resident of Apatitov was tightened.

Both convicts were found guilty of organizing the illegal stay of foreign citizens in Russia using forged documents as part of an organized group. The case was qualified under Article 322.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation “Organization of Illegal Migration”.

Earlier, “MK in Murmansk” also reported that in Polar Zorya revealed the activities of a criminal cell with incomes in the millions.