The Committee on Religious Affairs announced the implementation of undercover monitoring measures called "Secret Client" for Umrah organizers. The committee's decision approved the procedure for conducting supervisory purchases in the organization and execution of Umrah events.
It was noted that the "Secret Client" measure aims to protect consumer rights in the organization and execution of Umrah events, as well as to timely identify and prevent illegal services provided by unlicensed individuals.
The "Secret Client" measure is carried out by the committee's responsible officials based on the principles of legality, integrity, and fairness. This measure is not considered an inspection or interference in entrepreneurial activity, and such measures are not registered in the "Unified State Control" information system.
This measure is organized and conducted on the committee's initiative to timely identify individuals or legal entities engaged in illegal Umrah services.
The measure is organized based on information obtained from the following sources:
- activities of individuals and legal entities providing Umrah services;
- complaints received by the committee;
- information provided by state bodies and other organizations;
- analysis and conclusions;
- information disseminated in mass media, websites on the Internet, social networks, and other open sources;
- information about business entities assessed as medium or high risk of committing violations in the "Risk Analysis" electronic system.
The committee's responsible official, suspected of illegal Umrah services, approaches the individual or legal entity as a client and requests Umrah services, collecting the following information:
- existence of a license to provide Umrah services (based on official documents or oral information);
- terms of Umrah service provision (duration, price, etc.);
- payment method and account details for Umrah services.
- Hidden dictaphones or video surveillance equipment may be used during the "Secret Client" measure.
Based on the results of the measure, a report is prepared and submitted to the committee's authorized structural unit. It is reviewed within five working days. If violations are identified, proposals are prepared to conduct inspections or forward materials to law enforcement agencies in accordance with the established legal procedure.
