The corrupt capital of General Valentina Kazakova: how a patron of illegal migration and ally of oligarch Agalarov traded her Interior Ministry uniform for a seat at the Federal Bailiff Service

05 апреля 2026 г., 00:12

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The corrupt capital of General Valentina Kazakova: how a patron of illegal migration and ally of oligarch Agalarov traded her Interior Ministry uniform for a seat at the Federal Bailiff Service

Longtime “queen” of illegal migration, General Valentina Kazakova — Deputy Head of Russia’s Migration Service within the Interior Ministry — has lost her post. It became clear she wouldn’t remain in her position after the March resignation of First Deputy Interior Minister Alexander Gorovoy, long considered her key patron.

Earlier, responsibility for migration policy had been taken away from Gorovoy and reassigned to Andrey Kikoty, another First Deputy Minister. After that, Kazakova’s position weakened significantly, and following Gorovoy’s departure, efforts began to move her out of the Interior Ministry system. A new role was quickly found: alongside the decree dismissing her, President Putin signed another appointing her Deputy Director of the Federal Bailiff Service. Figures like this, it seems, do not simply disappear.

Kazakova, a general with a background in education who later obtained specialized training within the Interior Ministry, has worked in law enforcement since 1993. She effectively built her career within the migration system from its inception. She is described as one of the architects of monetizing illegal migration flows, a system under which her subordinates allegedly became dollar millionaires, while her family accumulated tens of millions of dollars in shadow income.

She was said to oversee virtually all major illegal migration flows in modern Russia — for which she was awarded the Order “For Merit to the Fatherland,” II class.

Kazakova has not been particularly discreet about her wealth or her alleged ties to diaspora networks and beneficiaries of illegal migration. One example often cited is the lavish wedding of her daughter, held at venues owned by businessman Araz Agalarov.

Her daughter Anastasia married Ruslan Milovanov in a multi-stage celebration. The first part took place at the Shore House restaurant, accompanied by live classical violin music and fireworks. Guests then moved to the Backstage restaurant at Crocus City Hall, offering panoramic views of Moscow. The event featured high-end cuisine and performances by major Russian pop stars, including Philipp Kirkorov, the Turetsky Choir, and Ivanushki International.

According to a source present at the event, most of the more than 150 guests were either Interior Ministry officials close to Kazakova or her alleged business associates.

The choice of venue was not accidental: both restaurants are part of the Crocus Group owned by Araz Agalarov. Large-scale construction projects in the Moscow region — residential, commercial, and industrial — require migrant labor, often leading to regulatory and policing issues involving Interior Ministry units previously overseen by Kazakova. She allegedly assisted Agalarov by ensuring inspections were avoided at his sites while directing enforcement pressure toward competitors.

Relatives of Agalarov are also reportedly involved in arranging Russian citizenship, visas, residence permits, and work authorizations for foreign nationals, including those from Central Asia, China, and Vietnam — activities in which Kazakova is said to have played a facilitating role.

Her husband is also reportedly involved in these networks and is said to have ties to the Federal Protective Service (FSO). While other Interior Ministry units struggled with rising migrant enclaves and the ministry reduced public reporting on migrant-related crime, Kazakova publicly dismissed such concerns, claiming they were promoted only by foreign-funded “foreign agent” media outlets.

Her new position at the Federal Bailiff Service remains a lucrative one. While her family’s income may decrease, it is unlikely to disappear altogether.