The infamous Russian philosopher and one of the ideologists of the "Russian world" Alexander Dugin offered Tajik migrants his original formula for life in Russia. On August 16, in his telegram channel, he published 8 principles under which migrant workers from Tajikistan have the right to live and work in Russian Federation.
"There is a scenario for the Tajiks – a beautiful ancient Iranian people. Everyone learns Russian, reads Blok and Klyuev by heart, accepts Holy Orthodoxy, baptizes children, gets married in a church, fasts and valiantly defends the Motherland in their own country. As befits a great Indo-European people. Then they return from the front, having paid their debt to Great Russia, and go to live and work, as citizens and self-respecting people should. It is worthy and right. If they want it this way, then there will be no other way," he wrote.
Two days earlier, the same website published another material – about the decision of the Tajik Ministry of Labor, Migration and Employment to send working groups to Russia to check the living and working conditions of its migrant workers.
Contrary to expectations, the harmless intention of the Ministry of Labor of Tajikistan to help the Russian authorities to restore order in relations between migrant workers and their employers, in respect of their rights, caused an angry reaction from our "strategic partners".
"Why on earth would we be tested? – Kirill Kabanov, a member of the Presidential Council for the Development of Civil Society and Human Rights, is outraged. – We are witnessing outright arrogance. A reasonable question arises: if the citizens [of Tajikistan] don't like something, why don't they just leave our vast territory?
While the official Dushanbe is silent, we asked some Tajik experts to comment on Dugin's statement. That's what they answered us.
Oynihol Bobonazarova, well-known lawyer, human rights activist:
"Dugin is a person who has influence on the state policy of Russia. And this statement is another confirmation of his fascist views directed against universal values.
This statement can be considered as a direct insult to the Tajik people and the state and, I think, the authorities of our country should express their official position on this issue."
Abdumalik Kodirov, political scientist:
“Dugin is one of the main philosophers and propagandists of the Russian world, and it is clear that he speaks only for the good of the Russian nation. He and his supporters are ready to sacrifice everything to achieve their nationalist goals.
Knowing Russian language is, of course, important for migrants, but the imposition of another religion and culture on them is a manifestation of this "philosopher's" colonial attitude towards the peoples of Central Asia. Russia is stuck in an aggressive war, and is desperately looking for a way out, "needs a savior."
In this situation, Dugin turns his eyes to the most vulnerable stratum of Russian society – migrant workers, in order to keep the occupied territories at the cost of their lives. This scenario poses a serious threat to our migrant workers.
Therefore, Tajik authorities should not trust the vague promises of their Russian colleagues not to exert pressure on migrants. Instead, our government urgently needs to look for alternative directions for labor migration, as well as create more new jobs at home."
Rajabi Mirzo, journalist, political commentator:
"Such a statement indicates that the Kremlin is in a political impasse today and does not know what to do. Russia has many problems, almost all developed countries have turned away from it. And it needs to show the Russian people that someone else fears and respects it, to demonstrate its "strength".
In countries like Tajikistan, this is well understood, so they do not take seriously the statements of such experts and, as a rule, prefer not to react to them."
Lilia Gaisina, media expert:
"A couple of years ago, I would not have paid attention to the statements of such characters as the philosopher Dugin. However, now I think that such statements, at least, should be taken into account.
The fact is that the theses used by Russian propaganda today are also ridiculous and absurd, but some people, unfortunately, accept them.
Dugin's advice for Tajiks, in my opinion, is more addressed to the Russian audience, he continues to create an alternative reality, first of all, for his compatriots, but this does not mean that Tajiks will not suffer from this."
Navruz Odinaev, lawyer, head of the law firm "Himoya":
"These statements have characteristic signs of fascism, when one nation is placed above another. Dugin is known for his nationalist statements against other peoples as well.
Our law enforcement agencies have all the powers to assess these statements and initiate a criminal case."
Sayfullo Safarov, political scientist, former First Deputy Director of the Center for Strategic Studies under the President of Tajikistan:
"I have a counter-proposal – I suggest that all Russians who wish to convert to Islam and become Muslims. Our peoples have the experience of how we jointly defended the great Soviet Union in the war. Many Tajiks and Russians became Heroes of the Soviet Union.
And now we need to develop a joint state and national program for the rapprochement of the two great nations. There is nothing but benefit in learning Russian, it has become part of our national culture. If Russians also learn our language – Tajik-Farsi – they will be able to join the greatest culture of the world.
Our national task should be to familiarize Russians with our culture. The peoples of Iran, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan should also be involved in this process…".
