The Department of the Federal Security Service across the Republic of Dagestan has successfully dismantled a network that facilitated the illegal transit of individuals from the Syrian Arab Republic to the countries of the European Union, bypassing the official channels established for legal migration.

In this operation, an employee of the International Relations Department at one of the regional universities collaborated with a citizen of Jordan to establish a clandestine migration route for Syrians. In exchange for financial compensation, he facilitated the issuance of study visas for Syrians, receiving them in Makhachkala and accommodating them in the university dormitories. Subsequently, these individuals were transported to Moscow with the intention of facilitating their entry into the European Union.

Sovetsky District Court in Makhachkala has found the suspect and his co-defendant guilty of committing offences under paragraphs ‘a’ and ‘c’ of part 2 of Article 322.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, which relates to the organization of illegal migration. Considering their admission of guilt and cooperation with the investigation, the court imposed a sentence of one and a half years' imprisonment suspended for a similar probationary period.