MOSCOW. April 20 (Interfax) - The Federal Security Service (FSB) and a special unit of the Russian National Guard have stopped the activity of a group unlawfully legalizing foreign citizens in Tver for a long period of time.
"According to the detectives, criminal group members received foreign citizens on the premises of document centers for the purpose of false registration and employment. The so-called 'hostels' were used for issuing registration documents and massively registering foreigners. The uncovered group alone legalized over 1,500 persons," the FSB public relations center said in a report seen by Interfax on Thursday.
"Thus, a channel was created for entry of suspected criminals and members of international terrorist organizations into Russia; those persons could start propaganda of extremist religious ideology and recruitment of Russian citizens for terrorist activity," FSB said.
Documentary evidence of the illegal activity was found at places of residence, hostels and document centers. The criminal group members were charged with organizing illegal immigration, it said.