Thousands of Tajiks have been deported from the Russian federation over the first six months of this year.
In a report released at a news conference in Dushanbe, the Minister of Labor, Migration and Employment of the Population of Tajikistan, Ms. Gulnora Hasanzoda, revealed on August 6 that 17,134 Tajik citizens had been deported from the Russian Federation over the first six months of this year for violating Russia’s migration legislation.
According to her, 332,700 protocols on administrative offenses have been drawn up against Tajik nationals over the reporting period.
Most of them have reportedly been deported for violating the rules of stay in Russia, including failure to register within fifteen days of their arrival in Russia, expiration of a labor patent and other violations.
Meanwhile, many Tajik migrant workers are leaving Russia of their own accord, fearing an increase in xenophobia and restrictions inside Russia and on travelling to it.
The flow of migrants to the Russian Federation is decreasing
Ms. Shahnoza Nodiri, Deputy Minister of Labor Migration and Employment of the Population of Tajikistan, told reporters yesterday that 387,000 Tajik nationals have traveled to Russia over the first six months of this year, which is 62,300 of 155 fewer than in the same period last year.
She noted that the flow of Tajik labor migrants to Russia has decreased due to the tightening of the Russian migration legislation.
Ms., Nodiri emphasized that legal restrictions have always existed and they apply not only to citizens of Tajikistan, but to citizens of all countries having visa-free travel to the Russian Federation.
She further noted that after a March attack by gunmen — four of whom are suspects from Tajikistan — on a concert hall in Crocus City near Moscow legislative measures have become more strictly applied.
“If Tajik labor migrants are sent to Russia legally, the risk of being expelled will be significantly reduced. The legal employment and compliance with all established rules and requirements allows migrants to work in Russia without the threat of administrative penalties and deportation,” the deputy minister noted.
She further added that according to data of the Russian side, patens of more than 600,000 Tajik nationals are currently valid and they can continue their work activities in Russia without hindrance.
Russia hosts millions of migrant workers from Central Asia, including Tajikistan, who are employed in a variety of occupations, including construction, street cleaning, retail, and the restaurant industry.
It is to be noted that the life of Tajik migrant workers in Russia has consistently deteriorated in recent years, especially after the launch by Russia of the so-called “special military operation” in Ukraine in February 2022. However, after the Crocus City Hall terrorist attack, the pressure on labor migrants from Tajikistan has increased even more.
In April, officials in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan advised their citizens to refrain from traveling to Russia amid increased pressure faced by labor migrants from Central Asia following the deadly Crocus City Hall attack.
Last month alone, hundreds of Tajik migrants were stranded at Russian airports. On July 8, dozens of Tajik migrant workers returned to Tajikistan after Russian authorities refused them entry to the country five days earlier amid a wave of anti-Tajik sentiment.
