World · Europe · 2 hrs ago
Tajik man arrested in St Petersburg over alleged border crossing
A Tajik citizen was arrested in St Petersburg over an alleged illegal border crossing into Russia.
He had been deported in 2021 for migration violations and barred from entering Russia for five years, until July 2026.
After changing his surname and getting a new passport, he tried to enter through Domodedovo airport in January 2025 but was turned back.
He later entered Russia through Belarus, according to the allegations, and was arrested on October 21, 2026.
The Krasnoselsky District Court ordered him held in custody until December 18 while the case proceeds.
He is accused of illegally crossing Russia's state border, a criminal offence under the charge cited by the court.
The case concerns whether he broke the entry ban by returning through a different route.
A court in St Petersburg ordered a Tajik national held in custody until 18 December on suspicion of illegally crossing Russia’s border.
The man had been deported in 2021 and barred from entering Russia for five years, until 2026.
After changing his surname and receiving a new passport in Tajikistan, he tried to enter Russia through Domodedovo airport in January 2025 but was turned back.
He later entered Russia from Belarus, according to investigators.
Police detained him on 21 October 2026.
- Who
- A Tajik national identified in the reports as Firuz Sobirzoda, formerly Aliyev.
- What
- He was arrested on suspicion of illegally crossing Russia’s state border. A court ordered him held until 18 December.
- When
- Police detained him on 21 October 2026; the court ordered his detention on 23 October.
- Where
- St Petersburg, Russia. Investigators say he entered Russia from Belarus.
- Why
- He was suspected of crossing the border illegally after being deported and barred from entering Russia.
The accused
The court
Detention
The accused
He opposed being held in custody.
The court
The Krasnoselsky District Court ordered him held until 18 December.
The man was held administratively responsible for violating Russia’s rules on residence and was deported in July with a five-year entry ban.
According to the court press service, he tried to enter Russia through Domodedovo airport and was sent back.
Reports say he later flew to Minsk and crossed into Russia from Belarus; one report gives 20 January as his arrival in Minsk.
Police detained him.
A St Petersburg court ordered him held in custody until 18 December.
- Nationality
- Tajikistan
- Former surname
- Aliyev
- New surname
- Sobirzoda
- Entry ban
- Five years, until July 2026
- Detention
- Until 18 December
- Alleged route
- Belarus into Russia
3 sources
What people are saying
After that, Aliyev, having applied to the competent authorities in the Republic of Tajikistan, was documented with a passport in the name of Sobirzoda. Then, on 14 January 2025, when attempting to enter through Domodedovo airport, he was officially notified of the entry ban and sent back.