09 June 2024, 17:06
Rights defenders dispute about aims of anti-migrant raids in Southern Russia
The anti-migrant raids, similar to the checks conducted in the Volgograd and Rostov Regions, pursue the aim of identifying migrants who have received Russian citizenship but are not registered for military service, and send them to serve under conscription or persuade them to sign a contract, some human rights defenders have suggested. Others object saying that raids are caused by the claims of the Investigating Committee of the Russian Federation (ICRF) that crime among migrants has increased.
Earlier, law enforcers reported about raids aimed to search for illegal migrants. At the marketplace in Rostov-on-Don, law enforcers found 16 foreigners who had violated the rules of staying in Russia, and 18 people who had received citizenship but had not been registered for the military service. In the Volgograd Region, 45 violators of migration laws were identified.
Following the raids conducted after the terror act committed at the Crocus City Hall, law enforcers reported massive violations of the migration legislation. Thus, in Rostov-on-Don, 150 people received summonses to the military commissariat (registration and enlistment office); and 25 foreigners were brought to administrative responsibility. Human rights defenders have treated the fight for migration legality as a show.
Valentina Chupik, a lawyer that deals with migrants, agrees with the opinion that during these raids they are trying to catch those who are not registered for the military service.
"First of all, most vulnerable ones, who have little social support, including members of ethnic and religious minorities, are thrown to the frontline," Ms Chupik has noted.
Stefania Kulaeva, an expert at the "Memorial" Anti-Discrimination Centre, points out that the raids conducted in Rostov-on-Don and Volgograd are part of anti-migrant raids held throughout the country. According to her version, the aim of these raids is to hunt for potential conscripts.
In the opinion of Svetlana Gannushkina*, the head of the "Civic Assistance" Committee*, the anti-migrant raids have become more frequent after the statement by Alexander Bastrykin, the head of the ICRF, that the number of crimes committed by migrants has increased.
"They spare none. And all those who have Russian citizenship are immediately offered to sign a contract and go to fight for Russia," Ms Gannushkina* has noted.
*Included by the Russian Ministry of Justice (MoJ) into the register of foreign agents.
This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on June 8, 2024 at 08:59 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.
Author: Roman Kuzhev Source: СK correspondent
