St. Petersburg law enforcement conducting raids, deporting migrants en masse, say human rights activists

St. Petersburg law enforcement is conducting a large-scale operation called “Anti-Migrant,” aimed at identifying and deporting foreigners who do not have legal residency in Russia, reports the human rights group Department One.

“You can’t get near the temporary detention centers for foreigners. There are a lot of specialized vehicles as well as buses to take people to the airport. They’re also carrying out raids on dormitories and apartments. All the detention centers are overcrowded,” a lawyer told Department One.

According to him, migrants are being deported from Russia en masse. “Just yesterday, more than 64 foreign citizens were deported from St. Petersburg’s Vyborgsky district alone. Two full planes took off,” he said.

On Friday, several more buses of people were sent to the airport, he added.