Illegal foreigner legalization scheme busted in Kyiv

Law enforcement officers have notified a 45-year-old Kyiv resident and his accomplice – a 36-year-old lawyer’s assistant – of suspicion for organizing a large-scale scheme to legalize foreigners in Ukraine through fictitious companies and charitable organizations.

According to Ukrinform, this was reported by the Main Directorate of the National Police in Kyiv.

Investigators established that the organizer sought out foreigners interested in entering Ukraine and, for a fee, provided legal support: they were “employed” at fake companies, which served as grounds for obtaining visas. The cost of the document package ranged from $2,000 to $6,000.

The accomplice then used connections within the State Migration Service to help clients obtain temporary residence permits by entering false information into state registers.

“At present, the legalization of three foreigners has been documented, two of whom are Russian nationals, under the guise of volunteers invited by a fictitious charitable foundation, as well as a director of a newly created fake company. In total, more than 100 foreigners used the illegal scheme,” the statement said.

Police conducted more than 10 searches at the suspects’ homes and workplaces. They seized over $56,000, around 280,000 hryvnias, more than €5,000, and 4,000 zlotys, as well as equipment, data storage devices, documentation, company seals, and a vehicle belonging to one of the suspects.

With the support of a special police unit, the organizer was detained while receiving a payment installment from one of the clients.

The suspects have been charged under Article 332 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (illegal transportation of persons across the state border). The organizer was also charged under Part 3 of Article 369-2 (abuse of influence). He will remain in custody for the duration of the investigation.

Law enforcement officers are working to identify all individuals involved in the scheme. Measures are also being taken to revoke residence permits and impose entry bans on foreigners involved in the case.

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As reported by Ukrinform, Kyiv police previously exposed another criminal group that brought in and fictitiously employed foreigners. At least 47 citizens of China and South American countries had used that scheme.