Charges Filed in Illegal Residency Scheme
Kyiv police have charged the director of a charitable organization and an accomplice with illegally legalizing foreigners by falsely presenting them as volunteers. The operation was uncovered by investigators from the migration police unit of the Kyiv police headquarters, working alongside detectives from the Pechersk district police and under the procedural supervision of the Pechersk District Prosecutor's Office.
The mastermind behind the scheme is a 47-year-old Kyiv resident who founded one of the charities. He devised a method to unlawfully legalize citizens from Central Asian countries within Ukraine. A 39-year-old female acquaintance was brought in to prepare and process the fake documents. Foreign nationals obtained temporary residence permits in Ukraine based on official invitations from the charity and paperwork claiming they were doing volunteer work. The cost for these services ranged from $2,000 to $3,000 USD. More than 100 foreigners are believed to have used this scheme.
Law Enforcement Actions
Authorities are now working to revoke the residence permits of those involved and to issue entry bans to Ukraine. During searches, officers seized the following items:
- mobile phones
- laptops
- handwritten notes
- work documents
- bank cards
- temporary residence permits
- official stamps
- USB flash drives
- copies of foreign passports
- cash
The scheme's organizer has been notified of suspicion under Part 3 of Article 332 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, while his accomplice faces charges under Part 2 of the same article. The maximum penalty under this law is up to nine years in prison. Previously, Kyiv police dismantled a large-scale illegal residency channel run by a 45-year-old Kyiv resident and his 36-year-old accomplice, a lawyer's assistant. In that earlier operation, service fees ranged from $2,000 to $6,000 USD.
By using official invitations from the charity and falsified volunteer documents, foreigners were able to obtain temporary residence permits in Ukraine. This allowed them unrestricted entry into the country, a path to permanent residency, and the ability to cross the state border repeatedly with ease.
This case highlights the critical need for oversight in the legalization of foreigners in Ukraine, as such schemes not only break the law but also pose risks to national security. The actions of law enforcement demonstrate an active effort to combat illegal migration and prevent similar crimes from occurring in the future.
This recent case highlights ongoing issues with illegal residency schemes in Kyiv. In a similar operation, authorities recently dismantled a human trafficking network, arresting the alleged mastermind behind it. For more details on the crackdown on illegal migration channels in the city, see our coverage of the human smuggling ring dismantled by Kyiv authorities.