“Volunteer” recruitment
Russian police arrest 3,000 migrants at New Year’s Eve celebrations
January 2, 2024, 7:51 p.m
For many migrants from Central Asia, New Year’s celebrations in Saint Petersburg are turning into a nightmare. Russian police arrest around 3,000 people “for preventative purposes.” The authorities put those arrested under pressure in a perfidious way – and, according to a report, force them to do military service in Ukraine.
Russian police arrested thousands of migrants from Central Asia in St. Petersburg on New Year’s Eve. The state news agency Ria Novosti reported around 3,000 arrests “for preventive purposes.” Violations of residence law were found in more than 600 people. According to a report in the independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta Europa, the mass arrests were part of an Interior Ministry operation to increase Russian troops in Ukraine. The newspaper cites a source in the ministry.
Accordingly, the city was given the order in August to recruit 7,000 “volunteers” for the war in Ukraine. The Interior Ministry then decided to concentrate on migrants. Most of the arrests took place during public celebrations on New Year’s Eve, but some people were also arrested in their homes. Women and children were taken to a detention center outside the city and men were taken to other prisons, the report said.
Military service “strongly recommended”
The next morning, the arrested men were “strongly advised” to “register as volunteers in the army.” Those who hesitated were threatened with the expulsion of their families from Russia. People who do not have Russian citizenship were promised quick naturalization.
Those who have no family members in Russia, no Russian passport, and did not allow themselves to be pressured in other ways were sent to court, according to the report. According to the press service of the Saint Petersburg courts, on January 1, the district courts examined 31 protocols on violations of migration law, 27 people were fined and sentenced to deportation.
According to the Interior Ministry source, at least 1,500 detainees signed contracts with the Defense Ministry after the raid. “The boss said last night that our experiences in Moscow were viewed positively and other regions are taking us as an example,” said the anonymous ministry employee. The source estimates that it is entirely possible that similar raids against migrants could take place in other cities from now on.