Watch: Russian Police Raids Illegal Immigrant Worksite
Police ranked the migrants to put them in police cars and send to their native country. This was the last shift for dozens of workers who worked without any documents at а construction site. Soon they will meet with families, have a short vacation and search for a new job. Arthur Abdyukhanov is reporting about the last working day of illegal immigrants.
A minute ago equipment worked at this construction site, and the work was humming. The situation changed dramatically after the police appeared. Law enforcement officers are here for a reason. They know illegal migrants are working here.
It's already the 3rd floor, marathon running skills are very useful. Police officers are not even out of breath.
A few minutes later the police find those who stayed in the workplace. There aren't many of them, most took a timely break from work. Those who stayed are asked to show their patents, registration and passports.
- Don't hide your hands!
Foreign guests have difficulties talking with the policemen. Many forget that they speak Russian. And those who remember try to speak in a raised voice.
Mehrob, handyman: "I work here as a carpenter, handyman, I have all the documents. Bills are paid, registration is valid, I don't know why they are here. I don't get... I'll bring it and show you. I don't know why they are treating me like that".
Mehrob has been working at the construction site since May. Here he lives in a small studio with his colleagues.
- How much is the rent?
Mehrob, handyman: "5.000 per person. We pay 5-6 thousand for the flat".
- And how many people and rooms are there?
Mehrob, handyman: "One room, and there are 5 people".
- 5 people in a studio?
Mehrob, handyman: "Yes. 3 have night shifts, and 2 have day shifts".
Those who don't have enough money to rent even a studio, live in this improvised settlement, in trailers next to the construction site.
- Good morning, my friends! Wake up! Get up, young men. Show your documents, please.
Two men are sleeping on mattresses, there are play cards and a sachet with strange green substance next to them. The roomers are certain not to expect the guests in police uniform to awake them, and ask not to film them.
- Where are you from?
- Can you not film us? We are students.
- Is it a student ID?
- No, it says I'm a student.
- Are you students? Where's your ID card?
- Can you not film us? I'm a sportsman of the 3rd class!
The documents of the young man, either a student or a sportsman, expired 2 months ago. Now he will have to go to the police station.
There's a kitchen and produce storage in a small trailer next to the bunkhouse. Here is an improvised kitchen, and they're likely to cook pilaf in this cauldron. The trash can is here, too, and here are a lot of peppers. And this simple thing is likely to be a ladle, that have been made at this very construction site. That's how they stir the pilaf.
Builders who don't have a work permit, passport or residence permit were sent to the police station to check the documents. Their record might include not only migratory violations.
Kirill Mironov, Deputy Head of MIA Migration Department: "Today, as a preventive measure, the place of stay and work of foreign citizens was checked at a construction site. About 35 citizens of various countries were detected."
Those, against whom administrative action was already brought, will be prohibited from working at the construction site. They face not only a fine of 5 to 7 thousand rubles, but also deportation from Russia.
Arthur Abdyukhanov, Vladimir Sudets and Kirill Markin for Vesti Call Center.