A two-day official visit of the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to Tajikistan is starting today. He is scheduled to hold talks with his Tajik counterpart Sirojiddin Muhriddin and Tajik President Emomali Rahmon to discuss topical issues related to the bilateral cooperation between the Russian Federation and Tajikistan.
Tajik experts consider that top Russian diplomat’s visit to Tajikistan has significant motivation due to several factors
Abdumalik Qodirov, Head of the Media Alliance of Tajikistan (independent advocacy group), considers that Lavrov seeks to carry out diplomatic work to restore and strengthen contacts with the countries of Central Asia in order to restore Russian influence, which had weakened due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
ИЗОБРАЖЕНИЕ Abdumalik Qodirov
“Therefore, this visit is an attempt to prevent Chinese dominance [in the region] and its impact on the countries of Central Asia,” Mr. Qodirov said.
During this visit, it is expected to establish contacts and coordinate actions in order to preserve Russia's interests in the region, he noted.
“Besides, it is expected that during meeting with high-ranking Tajik state officials, Lavrov will take efforts to mitigate the consequences of unlawful actions of the Russian law enforcement structures against Tajik nationals in recent weeks.
Recall, media outlets in late May reported on mass detention of Tajikistan citizens in the Russian Federation.
Thus, more than Tajik labor migrants were reportedly taken to police station in Moscow’s Mitino district on the morning of May 30. They were reportedly picked up in the middle of the night and taken by four buses to police station in Moscow’s Mitino district.
Besides, a video showing Russian police getting Tajik migrants out of the school stadium in Moscow’s Mozhaisk district was posted on social media on May 29. Russian media reports said at the time that the migrants allegedly forced teenagers to leave the school stadium on Belovezhskaya Street so they could play soccer there themselves. Russian media reported that police had responded to calls from local residents.
Approximately 100 Tajik labor migrants were detained by police in the town of Kotelniki in Moscow oblast in the night from May 23 to May 24.
Tajiks students studying at the Technical University in the Russia city of Komsomolsk-on-Amur told RFE/RL that police and security officers raided their dormitory on May 19, severely beating some 100 students from Tajikistan, leaving 15 students injured, some of whom need surgery.
On May 24, Tajikistan’s Foreign Ministry summoned the Russian Ambassador to Tajikistan, Semyon Grigoryev, over this incident.
“In the context of serious demographic problems in Russia, migrants from Central Asia’s nations, including Tajikistan, may become the most vulnerable group that could be mobilized for participation in military conflicts,” Mr. Qodirov said.
He noted that since there is no unified and consistent system of attitude towards migrants in Russia, “some groups stimulate the attraction of migrants to participate hostilities, while others drive them out of the country.”
“As a result, migrants suffer from this uncertainty and injustice,” Qodirov said.
He further added that the issue of Tajikistan’s joining the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) will also be raised at the forthcoming meetings.
According to Qodirov, Lavrov’s visit is an important event that should be used by the Tajik side to solve problems concerning the dual citizenship and participation of Tajikistan citizens in Russia’s war against Ukraine and “the necessity of establishing respectful attitude of Russia towards Tajikistan as its strategic partner.”
Doctor of Sciences in Law Shokirjon Hakimov says, “There is nothing surprising in the visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergei Lavrov to Tajikistan. Against the backdrop of an exacerbated conflict of interest between Russia and some countries some countries showing activity in Central Asia, this visit is aimed at reducing Tajikistan’s foreign policy ambitions.”
ИЗОБРАЖЕНИЕ Shokirjon Hakimov
He notes that it is not yet known to what extent the new conditions proposed by Russia will change priorities of Tajikistan’s foreign policy.
“Will cooperation projects and programs proposed by Russia to Tajikistan be pragmatic? Of course, there will be talks, taking into account the latest negative phenomena observed by the Tajik society in the information space and the parties will discuss issues related to compliance with the fundamental principles of bilateral agreements regulating the provision of social rights and labor guarantees of our compatriots in the Russian Federation,” Mr. Hakimov said.
“At the same time, I would like to state that along with trying again to settle the issues concerning the labor migrants, the government of Tajikistan should take real measures to create favorable conditions for labor in the country itself, and thereby, reduce the flow of the economically capable part of the population out of the country,” the expert noted.
To achieve this goal, political will is needed and it is necessary to reduce the level of corruption, reform the personnel policy and take measures to create favorable economic environment and investment climate, Hakimov added.
