INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
and carry out mass inspections targeting foreign workersOver the past year, Russia has introduced tighter migration rules, including new
laws to locate and expel migrants more easily
The changes have sparked protests from several Central Asian countries, including Uzbekistan.Roughly 4 million migrants from the five former
Many work in low-wage sectors and send home remittances critical to their domestic economies.Uzbekistan's Foreign Ministry said it had
received reports of "unauthorized inspections and cases of disrespectful and rude treatment" of its citizens in Russia.It called on Moscow
"to treat Uzbek citizens with respect and to prevent actions that humiliate their honor and dignity," according to a statement published by
Tashkent also submitted a formal protest note to Russia requesting clarification about the reports.Russia's Foreign Ministry said it was
"studying" the note and described Uzbekistan as a "strategic partner," the state-run news agency TASS reported.In recent months, Kyrgyzstan
and Tajikistan have issued similar protests, denouncing mass detentions of their citizens in Russia.The crackdown follows the deadly 2024
terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall, which Russian officials blame on gunmen from Central Asia
Since then, Moscow has stepped up its efforts to police and repatriate foreign nationals.The war in Ukraine has further complicated matters
for Central Asian migrants, with Russian authorities accused of pressuring some to enlist in the military
Russia's Investigative Committee said last year that 10,000 foreign nationals with Russian citizenship had been sent to the front
lines.Ukraine's military estimates that around 3,000 Central Asians are fighting for Russia
Local media report that several dozen have been killed or imprisoned upon returning home.Despite a decline in migration, remittances remain
vital to Central Asian economies
According to the World Bank, they account for 45% of GDP in Tajikistan, 24% in Kyrgyzstan and 14% in Uzbekistan.
