St. Petersburg Reports 28.3% Drop in Migrant Crime After Tightening Controls

St. Petersburg has seen a significant 28.3% drop in crime rates among migrants, a trend attributed to strengthened migration controls, Governor Alexander Beglov announced. Beglov stated that the decrease in offenses committed by foreign nationals is a direct result of stricter enforcement of migration policies. He also noted a nearly one-third reduction in crimes where migrants were the victims. This effort involves 27 city departments working with the Interior Ministry and FSB regional branches.

Further measures include an extended ban on foreign nationals working in taxi and delivery services via work permits, now in effect for all of 2026. City officials, known as Smolny, estimate these restrictions have not negatively impacted the labor market or the city's economy. They report that Russian citizens and those from Eurasian Economic Union countries have filled the vacated positions.

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The number of crimes committed by foreign citizens has decreased thanks to stricter control in the sphere of migration policy.

The city continues targeted checks and raids in areas with high migrant populations, such as Apraksin Dvor, Kalininskaya vegetable base, and Sennoy market. According to the governor, over 12,000 decisions to deport foreign citizens were made last year, underscoring the intensified approach to migration management in the region.

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The restrictions have not had a negative impact on the labor market and the city's economy: the vacant positions were filled by citizens of Russia and EAEU countries.