Kommersant reports that according to Arkady Gostev, head of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia (FSIN), the concentration of foreigners in Russian correctional facilities has increased.

As of January 1, 2025, more than 30,000 foreigners were incarcerated in Russian correctional institutions, with 69.5% of them being citizens of Central Asia’ countries.

“The presented data collectively indicate an increased risk of operational complications in the institutions, which in some cases have escalated into emergencies such as escapes and hostage-taking,” Gostev stated during an FSIN board meeting.

He noted that FSIN has already taken necessary measures in this regard and is focusing on the threats posed by crimes committed by the "special contingent."

TASS reports that according to Gostev, the number of prisoners incarcerated for extremism-related offenses in Russia has doubled.

"The decline in the total number of inmates has been accompanied by a change in their criminogenic composition.  The share of those serving sentences for serious and particularly serious crimes has risen to 88%," the FSIN chief stated.

He further noted a 45.5% increase in the number of individuals suspected, accused, and convicted of terrorism-related crimes, a more than 96% increase in extremism-related offenses, and a 96% rise in crimes against the constitutional order and national security.

In June 2024, six inmates at Detention Center No. 1 in Rostov-on-Don took two FSIN officers hostage.  One of the captors referred to them as “mujahideen of the Islamic State.”  During the storming operation, four of the perpetrators were killed, while the two survivors were sentenced in July-August to 20 and 23 years in a penal colony.  The hostages were unharmed.

At the end of last year, the Interior Ministry reported that from January to November 2024, foreign migrants and stateless persons committed 2.1% fewer crimes compared to the same period in 2023.  The number of serious and particularly serious crimes decreased by 3.9%, incidents of intentional grievous bodily harm dropped by 11.1%, and murders and attempted murders became 4.5% less frequent.