The Ombudsman of Tajikistan, Umed Bobozoda, has appealed to his Russian counterpart, Tatyana Moskalkova, to ensure the protection of the rights of Tajik migrants, reports Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Tajik service.
In his letter dated October 10, he pointed out that Russian law enforcement officers use illegal practices against labor migrants, including mistreatment, beatings, and insults.
He noted that many Tajik citizens arriving in Russia are detained at the border and are not provided with “adequate conditions for meals and lodging.” Among the detainees are official representatives of Tajikistan, students, elderly people, women, and children.
"I ask for assistance in ensuring the rights of Tajik citizens by Russian law enforcement officers, and in cases where such incidents are identified, I request that these cases be taken under control and addressed," wrote Umed Bobozoda.
After the terrorist attack at the Crocus Center in March 2024, which Russian authorities attributed to several Tajik nationals, pressure on Central Asian migrants, including Tajiks, intensified in Russia. Russian authorities have significantly tightened their policies toward foreigners and labor migrants. In recent months, xenophobia and aggression toward migrants have also sharply increased.
Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin said in April that the "ill-considered information campaign" in Russia was fostering "negative perceptions of Tajik citizens and Tajiks." Later, the ministry handed a note of protest to Russian Ambassador to Tajikistan, Semyon Grigoriev, over "widespread negative attitudes" toward Tajik citizens and "systematic violations" of their rights and freedoms in Russia.
In May 2024, during a meeting with Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon described the issue of labor migrants as “very sensitive,” emphasizing that terrorism has no nationality or religion.
Dushanbe has repeatedly advised its citizens to avoid traveling to Russia following numerous denials of entry.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
October 14, 2024