Kyrgyz Authorities Announce Crackdown on Illegal Migration

On June 10, Kyrgyzstan’s State Committee for National Security (GKNB) will launch a nationwide campaign titled Operation Illegal, aimed at identifying and deporting undocumented migrants. The initiative will involve joint efforts by the GKNB and other law enforcement agencies, with a focus on conducting mass checks of foreign nationals residing in the country. The operation comes amid a sharp rise in the number of foreigners entering Kyrgyzstan in recent months. Speaking at a law enforcement coordination meeting, GKNB Chairman Kamchibek Tashiev outlined the scale of the influx: “Since the beginning of the year, 61,000 tourists, 30,000 foreign students, and 12,000 officially registered migrant workers have arrived in Kyrgyzstan. An additional 10,000 have entered for family, religious, or business purposes. The number of illegal migrants is estimated to exceed 5,000.” Tashiev stressed that Kyrgyzstan’s simplified entry procedures are being exploited, with some foreigners misrepresenting the purpose of their stay. “Under the guise of tourism or education, some individuals are engaging in unauthorized labor activities,” he said. He also noted that host organizations, such as universities or private companies, often lose track of those they invite, leaving many foreign citizens to remain in the country with expired visas. “This vulnerability can lead to a range of social issues,” Tashiev warned. “We are increasingly seeing cases of alcohol and drug abuse, breaches of public order, and even disrespect toward local customs and culture.” Under Operation Illegal, authorities will carry out raids to verify the legal status of all foreign nationals. By June 10, all non-citizens must be able to prove their right to remain in Kyrgyzstan or prepare to leave. The government has allocated 280 million Kyrgyz soms (approximately $3.2 million) to fund deportation efforts.

Turkmen Nationals in Belarus Investigated Over Alleged Migration Scheme

Belarusian authorities have launched a criminal investigation into an alleged illegal migration network that reportedly involved hundreds of Turkmen citizens residing in the country, according to a report by state news agency BELTA. The investigation centers on a scheme allegedly orchestrated by three taxi company owners in Minsk. Since 2022, four companies officially registered as taxi service providers were involved in operations that enabled foreign nationals, primarily from Turkmenistan, to obtain temporary residence permits using falsified documents. The business owners, aged between 30 and 38, are accused of hiring foreign nationals on paper to facilitate their acquisition of legal status. Investigators say the suspects collaborated with three intermediaries, themselves undocumented migrants, who advertised the scheme in online chat groups. These groups promised an easy path to legal residency, bypassing official procedures and bureaucracy. According to law enforcement, the operation offered two main methods for obtaining documents. The first involved issuing fake job invitations that prospective migrants could use at Belarusian embassies in Turkmenistan when applying for a visa. The second relied on falsified employment contracts, which migrants then submitted to local migration offices to obtain legal residence. The scheme came to light following coordinated searches at the suspects’ homes and company offices. Authorities seized computers, documents, and other evidence now under review. The suspects, who have been taken into custody, are cooperating with investigators and have reportedly admitted to charging $150 per visa, along with monthly payments from clients seeking to remain in Belarus. The investigation remains ongoing. Belarusian authorities are currently verifying the legal status of all foreign nationals who utilized the services of the implicated companies.