Since the terrorist attack at "Crocus City Hall," over 2,500 foreign nationals in Russia have reached out to pro bono lawyer Valentina Chupik for assistance. According to Chupik, migrants are being stopped by police and National Guard officers, who then take them for questioning with FSB representatives. Security forces are also raiding dormitories and hostels where Central Asian migrants reside.
Around 30 individuals have reported torture to Chupik following their detainment. Many complaints have surfaced regarding the harsh conditions of detention, with individuals being kept outside in extreme weather, denied access to facilities, and allowed to drink water only from the toilet tap.
The majority of requests for help are coming from Moscow, with significant complaints also emerging from Yekaterinburg and St. Petersburg. Additionally, the migration service has intensified its scrutiny of foreigners' residency permits in Russia, particularly annulling registrations for those living at one address with more than ten others.
Following the March 22 terrorist attack at "Crocus City Hall" near Moscow, where four individuals in military gear without masks opened fire on concert-goers, the FSB reported that the assailants had been detained in the Bryansk region and transported to Moscow. Seven suspects are currently in custody, with the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation reporting 139 fatalities from the attack.
