Russian police and Federal Security Service (FSB) officers in Irkutsk oblast have detained the deputy chairman of the Tajik diaspora and the head of the Uzbek National Center on suspicion of organizing illegal migration.  The authorities have not disclosed the names of the suspects.

The Russian Interior Ministry’s Office in Irkutsk oblast says that since January of this year, the leaders of the two diasporas, in collaboration with a supplementary education center, had been issuing certificates to foreign citizens, for a monetary fee, confirming proficiency in the Russian language, knowledge of history, and basics of Russian legislation.  These certificates were later submitted to migration authorities.

“Most of the foreigners did not actually possess such knowledge.  These criminal actions facilitated the issuance of work permits and residence permits in the Irkutsk region,” the statement said.

It was found that the top managers of the diasporas charged 8,000 rubles for a certificate confirming Russian language proficiency.  Over the course of their illegal activities, they earned more than 1.5 million rubles.

"During searches at the office and the suspects' residences, computers, flash drives, 1.7 million rubles, bank cards, blank cartridges, and documents with evidentiary value were seized," Interior Ministry’s Office in Irkutsk oblast noted.

Criminal proceedings have been instituted under the provisions of two articles of Russia’s Penal Code: Article 204 (7) — commercial bribery; and Article 322.1 (2) — organization of illegal migration.  An investigation is under way  

One of the suspects has been placed in pre-trial detention, while the other has been restricted from certain actions.

According to Russian media, the 61-year-old Yusup Kulmatov heads the Uzbek National Center "Our Homeland," and the 31-year-old Sharifbek Najmudinov is the deputy head of the Tajik diaspora in Irkutsk oblast.