Sergey Mironov, leader of the “A Just Russia – For Truth” party also member of Russia’s lower chamber (State Duma) of parliament, has appealed to Russia’s Prosecutor-General, Igor Krasnov, requesting an investigation into the legality of granting housing subsidies and certificates to migrants at the expense of the state budget, TASS reports.
Mironov called on regional prosecutors across the Russian Federation to examine the legality of distributing housing subsidies, certificates, and the actions of officials responsible for ensuring citizens’ rights.
In his letter, he noted that cases of unlawful receipt of housing subsidies and certificates by "new citizens of Russia" have become increasingly frequent.
According to Mironov, these incidents are no longer isolated and have become widespread across the country.
The lawmaker emphasized what he described as a “disturbing trend” — newly naturalized Russian citizens are receiving state-funded housing, bypassing the rights of native residents who have long been unable to improve their living conditions.
Mironov also pointed out that the process of issuing housing certificates lacks transparency, and the lists of recipients are hidden from the public. He concluded by stating that this area is becoming increasingly criminalized and corrupt.
Earlier, in March of this year, lawmaker Mikhail Matveyev proposed a bill that would limit access to subsidized housing for large migrant families, allowing it only for those who have lived in Russia for over 10 years.
This initiative followed consultations with legal experts who clarified that housing benefits fall under the jurisdiction of regional authorities, and each region has the right to set its own criteria for issuing certificates.
The bill is being debated amid public discussions over migrants' rights to social benefits — especially after a noticeable increase in the number of newly naturalized migrants in several cities.
Matveyev, a member of the State Duma from the Communist Party (KPRF), had previously made controversial statements about Tajik nationals. He earlier proposed the formation of "Tajik battalions" and criticized the lack of mobilization among migrants from Central Asia.
In September of last year, Matveyev introduced a bill that would strip migrants of their Russian citizenship if they evade military service, and would also extend this penalty to their family members.
The debate around housing benefits reportedly intensified following a scandal in Khabarovsk, where about 20% of housing recipients turned out to be migrants from Central Asia and the South Caucasus — despite ethnic Russians and indigenous peoples making up over 95% of the city’s population. This disparity sparked public outrage among local residents.
The issue gained further attention after a native of Tajikistan was arrested in the Moscow region on suspicion of fraudulently receiving housing subsidies. She is accused of unlawfully obtaining state assistance, once again raising concerns about the distribution of social benefits.
