Russian National Guard special forces detained 300 people for suspected migration law violations during a raid at a hostel in central Moscow, the Moscow branch of Federal Service of Troops of National Guard of the Russian Federation announced on August 5.

The arrests come as three of four Tajik nationals accused of carrying out the March 2024 terror attack—in which more than 140 people died at the Crocus City Hall concert venue in outer Moscow—on August 4 pled guilty on the first day of their trial. Following the March 2024 attack, Central Asian (especially Tajik) migrants have faced intensified xenophobic abuse, both from private individuals and through state rhetoric. Incidents include increased workplace checks, refusals of services, and police raids at dormitories and mosques. Many Tajiks in Russia now fear leaving their homes and some have voluntarily returned to Tajikistan to avoid harassment.

In the August 5 assault, the Avangard riot police unit provided force support to military investigators from Russia's Investigative Committee during the operation targeting migration law violations.

During the raid, authorities checked migration cards, passports and work permits of 400 foreign nationals residing at the hostel in the capital's centre.

"As a result, 300 people were detained on suspicion of violating migration legislation and taken to a police station for further investigation," the department said.

In June, law enforcement officers in St Petersburg checked documents of 5,000 foreign nationals, believed to be mainly Tajiks, during a similar raid, taking more than 200 people to police stations for violations.

Among them were 30 foreigners, captured on film as Tajiks who were accused of committing serious migration law violations and are expected to be expelled from Russia.

In February, residents of the Moscow region village of Ermolino in Dmitrovsky district told Regnum News Agency that many foreigners from CIS countries live in the Overtime hostel, where an attack on police officers occurred.

Local Russian resident Elizaveta said she was afraid to let her child go for walks because hostel guests behaved aggressively, showing a dismissive attitude towards residents.

The pre-trial hearing of the Tajik nationals of the men accused of being the gunmen who conducted the assault, which took place two days after the attack, were remarkable in that the suspects were presented to the court in a state that quite clearly showed that they had been tortured, and the Kremlin appeared not in the least concerned by that fact. One appeared to have had an ear cut off.

The three perpetrators who admitted guilt before a three-judge panel are Dalerdzhon Mirzoyev, Shamsidin Fariduni and Muhammadsobir Faizov. The suspect who pleaded partly guilty is Saidakram Rachabalizoda.