The key facts

  • From January to September 2026, foreigners committed about 20,600 crimes, compared with 34,100 a year earlier — a decrease of 39.5%
  • The share of foreigners in the overall volume of crimes fell to 3.4%
  • Overall crime in Russia fell by 16.3% over nine months, and grave crimes by 21.7%

MVD data on migrant crime

Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev spoke on November 10 at a government hour in the Federation Council, whose session was devoted to measures to counter illegal migration. He reported that over nine months of 2026, foreigners committed more than 20,000 crimes — 40% fewer than in the same period last year — and their share in the overall volume of offenses fell to 3.4%. This was reported by Gazeta.Ru and Life.ru.

Exact figures and structure of the indicators

Life.ru provides more detailed statistics from the ministry: from January to September, foreign citizens and stateless persons committed about 20,600 crimes, compared with 34,100 in the same period of 2025 — a decrease of 39.5%, which the minister rounded to 40%. Of this number, 16,700 crimes were committed by citizens of CIS states — 42.4% below last year's level. At the same time, the number of crimes committed against foreigners themselves fell by 18.9%, to 5,800.

General context

The decline in migrant crime is taking place against the backdrop of an overall reduction in recorded crime in the country. According to the MVD, over nine months the number of registered crimes decreased by 16.3% compared with January–September 2025, and grave and especially grave crimes — by 21.7%. The same figures were previously cited by the Security Council of the Russian Federation, which noted on November 2 that the operational situation in the country remains stable. Gazeta.Ru also recalls that in Moscow the number of crimes fell by 17.1% over six months.

Statements tied to the professional holiday

Kolokoltsev's speech coincided with Internal Affairs Officer's Day. As Life.ru notes, Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a video address, congratulated MVD employees on their professional holiday and outlined priority areas in the fight against crime: countering criminality, illegal drug trafficking and cybercrime, as well as maintaining public order and road safety.