Russia’s ongoing “special military operation” in Ukraine has increased the demand for additional forces, and, in response, Russia is increasingly viewing the use of migrants as a good solution to the situation.

As of September 1, 2024, official figures state that 3,985,000 citizens of Central Asian countries lived in Russia. Uzbekistan leads the way with over 1,792,000 migrants, followed by Tajikistan with more than 1,231,000, Kazakhstan with 606,900, Kyrgyzstan with 262,800, and Turkmenistan with 92,000.

Some Central Asian migrants have signed contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defense to participate in the war, motivated mainly by financial incentives. However, economic reasons are not the only factor driving them to war. People from Central Asian countries who have received citizenship are also being threatened with imprisonment for failing to join the war effort. TCA has previously reported on efforts by officials to recruit young men detained at the Sakharovo immigration processing center to join the Russian army and fight in Ukraine. In addition, a decree issued by Vladimir Putin has simplified the process for foreigners who join the military to gain Russian citizenship.

In contrast, Central Asian governments have looked to discourage their citizens from engaging in the conflict. For example, Uzbekistan has warned that any citizen involved in the Russia-Ukraine war will face legal consequences. In October 2023, an Uzbek citizen who fought in Ukraine for financial reasons was sentenced to three years in prison by a Uzbek court. The defendant had returned to Uzbekistan after being wounded in the conflict, and authorities discovered military documents and proof of his Russian citizenship during their investigation.

By September 2024, a growing number of Central Asians had perished in the war, including 47 Uzbeks, 51 Tajiks, and 26 Kyrgyz nationals.

In Kazakhstan, since 2014, following the start of the war in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, criminal liability was been introduced for citizens who participate in armed conflicts abroad. A person who commits such an offense can be punished with imprisonment for up to 12 years, face the confiscation of property, and be deprived of their citizenship. For example, in November of last year, a 34-year-old man from Kazakhstan was imprisoned for six years and eight months for participating in the war in Ukraine.

Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have also applied measures involving the deprivation of liberty their citizens who participate in the war.

Tajikistan’s economy significantly depends on remittances from labor migrants in Russia, which account for approximately one-third of its GDP. Despite the war in Ukraine, over 1.7 million Tajik citizens sought work in Russia in the first half of 2022. However, reports indicate that many Tajik migrants are being sent to Ukraine against their will, raising concerns.

The situation further deteriorated after a terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall in February 2024. Tajik nationals were among the primary suspects, leading to a shift in Russia’s attitude towards Central Asian migrants. Tajikistan’s Foreign Minister, Sirojiddin Muhriddin, expressed concerns over the violations of Tajik citizens’ rights in some CIS countries, calling for a balanced approach to migration issues. Emphasizing the need for a comprehensive approach to solving migration issues in the countries forming the Commonwealth of Nations, he called for consideration of all parties’ interests: host countries, emigre countries, foreign citizens, and the local population.

Following the Crocus City Hall attack, Russian police began rounding up and deporting Central Asian workers from Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The deportations caused a 10% drop in remittances from Russia, severely impacting the economies of remittance-dependent countries.

On his social pages, one Russia Deputy, Sergey Mironov, even proposed introducing a temporary moratorium on granting Russian citizenship to immigrants from Central Asia. Due to rising xenophobia, maltreatment, and enhanced security measures, meanwhile, the authorities in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have called on their citizens to refrain from traveling to Russia until the situation stabilizes.

This comes amidst an increasing backlash from figures in Central Asia, such as Alisher Qodirov, the leader of Uzbekistan’s Milli Tiklanish (National Revival) party and deputy speaker of the lower house of parliament, who has repeatedly urged Russia not to interfere in Uzbekistan’s domestic affairs, commenting that “it would be better for [Russia] to deal with their own affairs [which are] full of problems.” Even in parts of Turkmenistan, a campaign has been launched to remove symbols of the former Soviet Union, whilst after a six year hiatus, in 2022 the Kyrgyz National History Museum in Bishkek reopened, with all of its displays pertaining to the years of the USSR – which formerly dominated displays – having been removed.