Фото: МВД
Belarus’s Interior Ministry has announced the exposure of a “grey” scheme to legalise foreigners in the country. Operatives from the GUBOPiK organised crime unit, with the support of Berkut special forces, detained two foreign nationals and a Belarusian citizen in Minsk.
According to the ministry, they provided “assistance to migrants in illegal entry into and residence” in Belarus.
“They produced and submitted to state institutions knowingly forged documents from both fictitious and real employers. In this way, they enabled illegal migrants to obtain visas and temporary residence permits in Belarus,” the statement said.
The services reportedly cost migrants between $200 and $250 per person. In addition, they were required to pay the organisers up to 250 roubles per month.
“More than 100 clients have been preliminarily identified. Many of them worked here as taxi drivers, auxiliary workers at markets and in the catering sector,” the Interior Ministry added.
A criminal case has been opened. During searches at the suspects’ places of residence and offices, electronic data carriers and documents related to financial, business and other activities were seized.
Foreign nationals who used the services of those detained are expected to be expelled from Belarus.