As of 29 October 2026, an expulsion regime was one of the results of raids in the Moscow Region: the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia (MVD), Russia’s federal law-enforcement agency, reported fines and the expulsion of violators. For employers, the result was 36 proceedings under Part 4 of Article 18.15 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation.
Raids in the Moscow Region Covered Construction, Retail and Residential Areas
According to the MVD, police inspections took place at construction and retail facilities, in residential areas and at places where foreign nationals gather in the Moscow Region. More than 260 people from Asian and Middle Eastern countries were taken to police stations.
For an employer, this type of oversight means that inspectors may focus not only on the workplace but also on the overall situation involving the foreign nationals engaged by the employer. The MVD statement concerns the practice of raids in the region and does not introduce new rules for hiring foreign workers.
261 Protocols Issued Against Foreign Nationals
According to the MVD, 240 protocols were issued under Article 18.8 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, and another 21 protocols were drawn up under Article 18.10 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation. A total of 261 administrative cases involving the specified violators were reported.
They were each fined 5 thousand rubles and expelled from Russia, according to the MVD statement. This result concerns the persons against whom the specified protocols were drawn up, not the 36 employers in respect of whom separate proceedings were launched.
36 Proceedings Launched Under Part 4 of Article 18.15 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation
According to the MVD, administrative proceedings were launched against 36 employers under Part 4 of Article 18.15 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation. The agency’s wording records the stage at which proceedings were initiated, not an established finding of employer liability.
Employers should not mix up the two groups of raid results: the protocols and measures imposed on foreign nationals constitute one part of the outcome, while the proceedings involving employers constitute another. The MVD statement does not specify any penalties imposed on the employers.
Hiring Compliance Checks Begin with Verifying the Lawfulness of Engaging Foreign Nationals
The practical conclusion for HR and management teams is to verify whether the process for engaging each foreign worker complies with the official requirements of the MVD and the applicable regulations. The review should be based on the actual HR situation, rather than on the assumption that a raid automatically confirms an employer violation.
It is useful to divide responsibility within the company in advance for engaging foreign workers, storing HR records and interacting with inspectors. This does not eliminate the need for an individual assessment of the circumstances of a particular proceeding, but it helps quickly gather information when a request or inspection occurs.
No New Deadlines for Employers Established as of 29 October 2026
The MVD statement does not specify any deadlines. It reports completed raids and launched proceedings but does not establish a new document-submission date, an employer response deadline or a period for carrying out HR actions.
Therefore, companies should not treat the publication of the raid results as a separate new requirement. They should rely on the applicable official requirements for engaging foreign workers and on the documents that may be issued in connection with a specific inspection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Was Affected by the Raids in the Moscow Region?
According to the MVD statement dated 29 October 2026, the inspections affected construction and retail facilities, residential areas and places where foreign nationals gather. More than 260 people from Asian and Middle Eastern countries were taken to police stations.
How Many Protocols Were Issued Against Foreign Nationals?
The MVD reported 240 protocols under Article 18.8 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation and 21 protocols under Article 18.10 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation. The specified violators were each fined 5 thousand rubles and expelled from Russia.
Does the Launch of Proceedings Mean That the Employer Has Already Been Found Liable?
No. According to the MVD statement dated 29 October 2026, proceedings under Part 4 of Article 18.15 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation were launched specifically against 36 employers; this is not equivalent to an established finding of liability.
What to Check
- Separate, in the records, the results concerning foreign nationals from the proceedings involving employers.
- Verify the lawfulness of engaging each foreign worker against the official requirements of the MVD and the applicable rules.
- Check who in the company is responsible for HR records concerning foreign workers.
- Prepare an internal procedure for forwarding information to responsible persons during an inspection.
- Do not treat the launch of administrative proceedings as confirmation of an employer’s liability.
- Bear in mind that the 36 proceedings mentioned in the MVD statement concern Part 4 of Article 18.15 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation.