Tengrinews.kz – Police identified more than 13,000 violations of migration legislation during the preventive operation “Illegal.” According to law enforcement officers, in most cases these violations are facilitated by Kazakhstanis themselves in order to make quick illegal profits.
The operation was carried out across the country from June 8 to 12.
In Astana, six citizens of African countries were illegally working for a city resident.
Similar violations were identified in Almaty, Shymkent, Karaganda, Almaty, Atyrau, Mangistau, East Kazakhstan, Kostanay and North Kazakhstan regions, where foreign citizens were illegally employed at construction sites.
In Aktobe Region, about 60 foreigners were working illegally at one construction site.
In Atyrau Region, a citizen of Kazakhstan was detained for organizing the illegal transfer of foreign citizens from Kazakhstan to a neighboring state. Similar cases were identified in Zhambyl and Pavlodar regions.
“All violators and their employers have been held liable in accordance with the law. In addition, investigations have been launched against five employers who violated the rules for hiring foreign labor two or more times within a year. Under the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, they face criminal liability,” the Interior Ministry said.
Such cases were identified in Zhambyl, Karaganda and Atyrau regions, as well as in Shymkent.
Police held preventive conversations with individuals and legal entities on compliance with the rules for the stay of foreign citizens in the country, and also explained liability for providing housing to foreigners and illegally hiring foreign labor without the relevant permits.
Places where foreigners live, construction sites, markets, organizations and employers using foreign labor were also inspected.
In total, following the preventive operation, 13,035 offenses related to violations of migration legislation were identified, including:
- 9,359 foreigners were brought to administrative liability for violating the rules of stay;
- 3,828 foreigners were held liable for illegal employment;
- 882 employers were held liable for the illegal use of foreign labor;
- 2,794 individuals and legal entities were held liable for failing to inform police in a timely manner about foreigners staying with them.
By court decision, 1,559 foreigners will be expelled from the country for violating migration legislation. Another 1,836 foreigners had their period of stay in the country shortened because their presence in Kazakhstan was deemed undesirable.
A total of 122 foreigners were forcibly expelled from the country, and all of them have been banned from entering Kazakhstan for five years.
“In addition, 14 foreign citizens who illegally entered the country were identified. Investigations into these cases are being conducted jointly with the Border Service. Twenty-one foreigners who were on international wanted lists and were hiding from justice in their own countries on the territory of Kazakhstan were detained,” the law enforcement agency said.
The Interior Ministry assured that it will continue working to prevent and identify violations of migration legislation.
