Members of the criminal organization, including an employee of the Pushkin Institute, were found guilty and sentenced to imprisonment for a term of two to three years in a general regime colony.
The suspects were detained in April 2024. During the investigation, it was revealed that they were illegally issuing certificates necessary for migrants to obtain residence permits. A criminal case was initiated against them under the articles "Organization of Illegal Migration" and "Abuse of Official Powers."
Although the Pushkin Institute denied the detention of its employees, as a result of an inspection that revealed insufficient control over examination procedures for migrants, rector Natalia Trukhanovskaya was dismissed.
According to the investigation, the defendants organized the issuance of certificates to foreigners confirming their knowledge of the Russian language, history, and the fundamentals of Russian legislation. These documents were necessary for applications to the migration authorities of the Ministry of Internal Affairs; however, most migrants did not possess the required knowledge.
The certificates based on which residence permits in Russia were issued have been annulled.
