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Deportation

Austria to Use Uzbekistan as Transit Route for Afghan Deportations Under New Agreement

Austria’s Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger and Interior Minister Gerhard Karner are expected to visit Uzbekistan on May 7 to sign a mobility agreement aimed at strengthening cooperation on migration, according to Die Presse. The agreement is intended to improve coordination between the two countries, particularly on deportations and the return of migrants. Austrian officials say it will create a more structured framework for handling individuals required to leave the country. A key provision involves the use of Uzbekistan as a transit route for deportations to Afghanistan. Afghan nationals facing removal from Austria could be escorted through Uzbekistan to Kabul. Until now, deportations to Afghanistan have largely taken place via Istanbul, meaning the new arrangement would open what officials describe as a “second route.” Karner said the deal would establish “the conditions for the consistent implementation of deportations as part of a firm and fair asylum policy.” The agreement also covers the readmission of nationals, third-country citizens, and stateless individuals who entered the European Union through Uzbekistan. In return, the document includes provisions to support legal migration from Uzbekistan to Austria. Despite its growing economy, Uzbekistan is heavily reliant on remittances from abroad, with Uzbek migrants sending home $4.8 billion in Q2 of 2025. Over the past few years, Tashkent has been seeking out alternative destinations than traditional routes dominated by Russia. To that effect, both Uzbekistan and Austria have committed to promoting “safe, orderly, and regular mobility of qualified workers” in line with national legislation. Austrian authorities note that Uzbek professionals already have multiple pathways to access the country’s labor market. The agreement does not provide for the establishment of return centers for rejected asylum seekers, an idea Austria has been pursuing with several EU partners, including Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, and Denmark. The visit to Uzbekistan is part of a broader regional trip that will also include Kazakhstan, which Austrian officials consider an important partner, particularly in the energy sector. The planned agreement comes amid continued migration pressures linked to Afghanistan’s humanitarian situation. According to the United Nations Development Programme, in 2024 around 85% of Afghanistan’s population was living on less than $1 a day. In June 2025, the World Food Programme reported that approximately 15 million people in the country were facing severe hunger. At the same time, large-scale deportations from neighboring countries have added to the strain. In July last year, Tajikistan launched a campaign to detain and deport Afghan refugees, giving them 15 days to leave the country.

Deportation

Deportation Flight from U.S. Returns 65 Nationals to Uzbekistan

Some 65 Uzbekistani nationals have returned to Uzbekistan after being deported from the United States because they didn’t have legal authorization to be there, according to the U.S. government. The deportation flight concluded on Wednesday, in “the latest in a series of ongoing actions as the United States secures its borders,” the U.S. Embassy in Uzbekistan said. The embassy said the United States had deported more than 1,000 Uzbekistanis since President Donald Trump took office for a second term in January 2025. As it has done following previous deportations, the agency thanked Uzbekistan for its “close cooperation.” Trump launched an immigration crackdown, and Uzbekistan has urged its citizens in the United States to follow local laws. After one deportation flight last year, Uzbekistan said it had funded the transportation but later said its repatriated citizens should pay for their travel.

Migration Policy

Uzbek Migration Agency Clarifies Legal Status Rules for Citizens in Turkey

Uzbekistan’s Migration Agency has issued an official clarification in response to social media posts and Telegram channel reports claiming that Uzbek citizens are no longer being deported from Turkey. The agency stated that such interpretations are misleading and do not reflect existing agreements or procedures. According to the agency, the issue at hand is not the cancellation of deportations, but rather the possibility of legalizing migration status strictly within the boundaries of Turkey’s current legal framework. “Responsibility for illegal stay and violations of migration law in Türkiye remains in force,” the agency said, urging citizens to rely exclusively on official sources and to view a detailed explanatory video published by the agency. The clarification follows what the agency described as inaccurate portrayals of ongoing consultations. Officials stressed that some outlets had distorted the nature of the discussions, leading to confusion among the public. The agency emphasized that the safety and legal protection of citizens abroad can only be guaranteed when migrants comply with the laws of host countries. Addressing the situation of undocumented migrants, the agency stated that Uzbek citizens currently residing or working illegally in Turkey may apply to Turkish migration authorities or to the agency’s representative office in Turkey to legalize their status, without facing deportation, provided they follow the established legal procedures. However, it warned that this does not mean individuals can leave Turkey without consequence if they have violated migration rules. The clarification comes amid heightened attention to the status of Uzbek migrants in Turkey following a high-profile criminal case in Istanbul. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, on January 24 the body of an Uzbek woman, identified as Durdona H., was found in a garbage container in Istanbul. Two Uzbek men were detained while attempting to flee to Georgia in connection with the case. The killing sparked protests in Turkey, where women called for justice for Durdona and other victims. On January 30, Uzbekistan’s Consulate General in Istanbul announced that Durdona’s body and her two children had been repatriated. The consulate stated that all related expenses were covered by the diplomatic mission and the Migration Agency. The Migration Agency concluded its statement by reiterating its call for responsible information sharing, and warning against the spread of unverified claims that could endanger citizens abroad.

Germany

Tajik Citizen Deported from Germany Over Suspected Terror Plot

German authorities have deported a 21-year-old citizen of Tajikistan who was detained on suspicion of planning attacks in crowded areas. Although no criminal case was formally opened, law enforcement officials cited concerns for public safety as sufficient grounds for deportation. The individual was detained in December 2025 in the city of Magdeburg. According to Die Zeit, the arrest was prompted by concerns that the young man posed a potential threat to public safety. Authorities claimed that although there was insufficient evidence to prosecute him under criminal law, his behavior suggested the possibility of radical intentions. Following several weeks of investigation, a decision was made to deport him. Police linked their concerns to signs of religious radicalization. Reports suggest the individual exhibited ideological extremism and a growing interest in firearms. While enrolled in a vocational school, he allegedly clashed repeatedly with classmates over religious issues. Mario Schwan, head of the Saxony-Anhalt state police, stated that the case was considered an “immediate threat” based on the police’s assessment. The man had entered Germany legally in June 2024 under a visa granted for participation in the Au Pair program. In his application, he expressed interest in German language and culture. He later enrolled in medical studies at the University Hospital of Magdeburg.

Labor migrants

Russia Announces ‘Deportation Regime’ for Migrant Laborers

It has been more than a month since the deadline for migrant laborers working in Russia to complete their registration documents or face expulsion. The anticipated mass deportations have not happened, but Russian State Duma Chairman, Vyacheslav Volodin, indicated on October 13 that could change soon. Volodin warned, “A new migration regime is now in effect… the deportation regime.” The Final Bell Several months ago, Russian officials announced the September 10 deadline for all migrant laborers to legalize their status to work and live in Russia. Russia’s Federal Migration Service created a list in the summer of 2024 of “controlled persons,” those who still did not have all the required documentation to remain in Russia. The list was posted on the service’s website in February 2025. Volodin said those on the list lacked one or more of the following: “documents or certificates required for obtaining migration status or citizenship, registration of a place of stay or residence.” Volodin said the list also included those who failed to complete mandatory procedures such as “annual medical examinations for [their] presence… as well as fingerprinting and photographing” or have failed to show that their “patent, work permits, or employment contract” was renewed. The Duma Chairman said some 35,000 “foreign citizens” had already been expelled between January and August of this year. September 10 arrived, and in the days that followed, there were no reports of Russian law enforcement rounding up migrants and sending them back to their homelands. However, it was clear the Russian government was not bluffing. In his remarks to the Duma, Volodin explained that as of September 1, there were still some 770,000 migrants on the register of controlled persons, and that one-third of them were women and children. If these people have not taken care of their requirements, Volodin said, “They need to leave our country, informing [us] of the date, place, and route of their departure.” The Dwindling Number of Central Asian Migrant Laborers in Russia There are several million foreign workers in Russia, and the largest group is those from Central Asia, though fewer of them work there than was previously the case. The terrorist attack on Moscow’s Crocus City Hall in March 2024 that left more than 140 people dead was blamed on citizens of Tajikistan. It sparked a wave of xenophobia in Russia aimed at Central Asians, and prompted a raft of new laws and regulations for migrant laborers. Uzbekistan’s citizens have long been the largest group of Central Asian migrant laborers working in Russia, numbering between 4 to 6 million, depending on the season, during 2016. Figures vary for how many Uzbek citizens are working in Russia now, but Uzbekistan’s Migration Agency said at the start of October that it was about 1.3 million, noting the figure fluctuates depending on the time of the year, and that during the warmer months of 2025, it was closer to 2 million. During his recent visit to Tajikistan for a CIS summit and a separate meeting with...

Fraud

Uzbek National in U.S. Faces Deportation Following Voter Fraud Conviction

An Uzbek citizen, Sanjar Djamilov, is facing deportation from the United States after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit voter registration fraud, according to a U.S. court ruling reported by Florida Politics. Djamilov, 33, who resides in St. Petersburg, Florida, was sentenced to time served and placed under supervised release pending deportation. He has been remanded to the custody of U.S. Marshals and is awaiting processing by the Bureau of Customs and Immigration. If deported, he will be barred from re-entering the U.S. without explicit government authorization. The court imposed a $100 assessment on Djamilov, but waived restitution and other fees. According to investigators, Djamilov and a Russian national, Dmitry Shushlebin, submitted 132 fraudulent voter registration applications to the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections between February and March 2023. The applications were flagged for identical formatting, repeated typographical errors, sequential Social Security numbers, and recurring birth dates, raising immediate suspicion. Authorities say the pair also submitted change-of-address forms to the U.S. Postal Service to redirect official mail to three addresses under their control. The case was jointly investigated by the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, following a referral from the Florida Department of State’s Office of Election Crimes and Security. In an April 2025 plea agreement, Djamilov admitted that Shushlebin had hired him and others to submit more than 100 fraudulent applications. While Djamilov has now been sentenced, Shushlebin has also pleaded guilty but is still awaiting sentencing. Djamilov had faced up to five years in prison for his involvement. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, 131 citizens from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan were repatriated from the U.S. on a special charter flight in May 2025. Funded by the Uzbek government, the operation reflected growing cooperation between Washington and Tashkent on migration and security issues.