Top Tajik diplomat has expressed concern over violation of rights of Tajik nationals, especially labor migrants and students, “in the territory of a number of CIS member nations”.
Sirojiddin Muhriddin stated this while speaking at a meeting of the CIS Council of Foreign Ministers in Moscow on October 7.
In his statement, Muhriddin drew attention of his counterparts from the CIS member countries to the facts of the ban on the entry of Tajik migrants and students, especially those studying at universities according to quotas provided by the governments of the CIS member nations, an official source within the Foreign Ministry of Tajikistan told Asia-Plus in an interview.
"This approach does not align with basic principles of humanity and calls into question the fundamental principles of the CIS's functioning. We believe that a comprehensive, careful, and transparent approach to resolving migration issues is necessary, one that equally takes into account the interests of the host country, the country of origin, the migrant workers themselves, and the local population," the foreign minister was quoted as saying.
The Foreign Minister of Tajikistan reportedly stated that during the upcoming presidency of the country in the CIS, Dushanbe would propose that member states intensify joint efforts to finalize long-debated projects, such as the Concept for the phased creation of a common labor market and regulation of labor migration, the Agreement on mutual recognition of documents for labor migrants, and the Protocol on amendments to the Agreement on the procedure for investigating workplace accidents involving workers outside their country of residence.
Although the minister referred to “a number of CIS member countries” without specifying any, it is evident that the focus is primarily on Russia, where pressure on Tajik citizens, including students studying in the Russian Federation, has increased following the terrorist attack on Crocus City Hall concert venue near Moscow.
Recall, Prime Minister of Tajikistan, Qohir Rasoulzoda, made a similar statement on October 4 at a meeting of the Russia-Tajikistan Intergovernmental Commission for Trade and Economic Cooperation in Dushanbe. Speaking at the meeting, he expressed concerns over the ongoing violations of the rights and freedoms of Tajik citizens during migration checks in Russia. Rasoulzoda reportedly highlighted the increasing issues Tajik migrants face, despite the growing demand for Tajik labor in Russia. The Tajik PM emphasized that there has been a rise in instances of denied entry, deportations, and travel bans imposed on Tajik citizens under the broad justification of “ensuring security.” He noted that people, including members of official delegations, students, the elderly, and even children, are often held at border crossings for hours or even days. The Tajik Prime Minister expressed the need for “effective solutions” in migration cooperation to achieve mutual understanding between Tajikistan and Russia.
Central Asian migrant workers and visitors have faced increased scrutiny from Russian authorities following a deadly terrorist attack at an entertainment center near Moscow in March that left more than 140 people dead and hundreds injured. Russia arrested more than 20 suspects, mostly from Tajikistan.
Meanwhile, some experts note that previous terrorist acts involving Central Asians did not lead to such an anti-migrant campaign. According to them, more likely, the issue lies in how the invasion of Ukraine has normalized a higher level of brutality and aggression in Russia. Many ultra-patriots, Z-bloggers, neo-Nazis, and war correspondents have reportedly risen to prominence, making xenophobic and hateful statements, including against migrants, commonplace.
Moscow recently reported a record-high number of deportations and rejections of efforts to enter the country in the first seven months of 2024 amid an apparent anti-migrant drive that mostly targeted Tajik, Uzbek, and Kyrgyz citizens.
More than 143,000 people were denied entry to Russia from January to July, a significant spike from 2023, the Russian Interior Ministry reported.
Nearly 93,000 people were deported from Russia, in a 53 percent rise from the same time last year.
Additionally, the number of temporary and permanent residence permits issued from January to July dropped by 44 and 18 percent, respectively, compared to last year.
The number of police raids targeting migrant-owned businesses rose by more than 200 percent, the Interior Ministry said.
