Police Raid Repino Hostel, Find 319 of Over 600 Foreigners

Police woke up guests at a hostel in the settlement of Repino (Kurortny District, St. Petersburg). The raid took place on July 20: according to Interior Ministry records, more than 600 foreigners were supposed to be in the building, but almost half as many — 319 people — were found on site. The results of the inspection were announced by the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) for St. Petersburg and Leningrad Region.

The morning began with an unscheduled lineup. Officers from the Migration Affairs Department, with police special regiment support, lined up everyone found in rooms, corridors, and near sinks against the walls. Some were allowed to finish brushing their teeth, others were not. Inspectors demanded to see registration documents, work permits (patents), and migration cards.

The reason for the visit was data from MVD information records: according to them, more than 600 foreigners were registered at the hostel. In reality, 319 people were on site. Almost all had their documents in order. The exception was one man who had violated the stay regime in Russia — an administrative protocol was drawn up against him. He faces a fine and deportation from the country.

The inspection also affected the legal entity managing the hostel. It was established that foreigners were registered for migration records in violation of the law. The issue of bringing the organization to administrative responsibility is being decided.

«Police officers continue inspection activities. The circumstances related to possible facts of fictitious registration of foreign citizens for migration records and organization of illegal migration are being established,» the department added.