Migrants - The Times Of Central Asia

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Migrants

Number of Tajik Citizens on Russia’s “Controlled Persons” List Surpasses 150,000

The number of Tajik nationals included in Russia’s registry of “controlled persons” has risen sharply, according to new figures released by the Representative Office of Tajikistan’s Ministry of Labor, Migration and Employment in Russia. Citing the latest update, Asia-Plus reports that more than 150,000 Tajik citizens were listed as of November, an increase of approximately 30,000 since the last official count. The previous figures, published in October 2024, placed the number at over 120,000. Since then, the Tajik authorities have repeatedly urged migrants in Russia to legalize their status and take steps to be removed from the so-called “blacklist.” However, no updated statistics had been released until now. Russia’s controlled persons registry, which came into force on February 5, 2025, encompasses individuals accused of various administrative violations. These range from minor offenses such as unpaid utility bills and traffic infractions to failure to appear at state agencies despite repeated summonses. Russian authorities gave migrants until September 10 to regularize their documents and avoid inclusion in the system. In September, Russia’s Interior Ministry announced that around 770,000 people were registered nationwide, one-third of them women and children. Foreign nationals on the list face wide-ranging restrictions, including bans on changing their place of residence without permission, leaving their region, operating vehicles, purchasing property, or conducting specific financial transactions. Since the registry’s introduction, numerous migrants have reported being added to the list in error. Many only discovered their status after receiving bank notifications about frozen accounts or blocked transactions. Tajikistan’s migration office in Russia continues to advise citizens to verify their status through the Russian Interior Ministry’s online platform. Migrants whose names appear on the list are encouraged to contact local migration offices for assistance. Those unable to resolve their situation are urged to leave Russia within the legally mandated timeframe. Earlier this year, The Times of Central Asia reported that the Tajik authorities had called on labor migrants in Russia to renew their documents before the deadline when Russia's updated migration regulations came into effect. The Tajik Interior Ministry has reminded citizens that maintaining legal residency is essential for continued employment in the country.

Migration

EU Opens First Migrant Resource Center in Uzbekistan as Russia Moves to Tighten Control

The European Union has launched Uzbekistan’s first Migrant Resource Center in Tashkent, while Russia is preparing to roll out a mobile application to monitor foreign workers starting September 1. Migrant Resource Center in Tashkent The EU Delegation in Uzbekistan announced that the centre opened on August 26 as part of the EU-funded PROTECT program: Improving Migration Management and Migrant Protection in Selected Silk Routes and Central Asian Countries. The initiative is implemented by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) in partnership with Uzbekistan’s Migration Agency. The Center will provide information on legal employment opportunities abroad, raise awareness about the risks of irregular migration, and support the reintegration of returning migrants. Similar centers already operate in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. At the opening ceremony, EU Ambassador Toivo Klaar said the centers “play a crucial role in providing people with the information they need to make informed decisions about migration.” ICMPD Deputy Director General Sedef Dearing added that the new facility will be “practical and timely for those considering migrating and returning.” Russia’s Mobile Application for Migrants Meanwhile, Russia will begin testing a new digital monitoring system in Moscow and the Moscow region on September 1, according to the Multifunctional Migration Centre in the Russian town of Sakharovo. Citizens from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Moldova, and Ukraine will be required to install a mobile application called Amina. The app will handle residence registration, address updates, work permit payments, and appointment scheduling. The Ministry of Internal Affairs will also have access to users’ geolocation data. Migrants who fail to confirm their location within three working days risk being removed from the registration system and placed on a monitoring list. Migration Management in Focus The launch of the EU-backed center in Tashkent reflects Europe’s emphasis on support services and informed choice for migrants, while Russia’s mobile app signals a shift toward stricter surveillance and control. Together, these measures highlight the growing importance of migration management across Central Asia and Eurasia.

Migrants

Potential Mass Expulsion of Migrants Looms in Russia

Russia introduced new regulations for foreign citizens in the country on February 5, and started keeping a list at the Interior Ministry of foreigners who are living or staying in Russia without proper documentation, the “controlled persons registry.” The rules are aimed at migrant laborers working in Russia, many of whom come from Central Asian countries. Russia has set a September 10 deadline for foreigners in the country to clear up all their paperwork with the authorities or face expulsion with a ban on re-entry. Judging by recent comments from Kyrgyzstan’s ambassador to Russia, Kubanychbek Bokontayev, many might not make that September 10 deadline. Needed but Not Desired Over the course of the last two decades, millions of citizens from Central Asian countries have worked in Russia. Most are from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. The remittances they send home have grown to the point where this money now accounts for nearly 40% of the GDP in Tajikistan, 24% in Kyrgyzstan, and 14% in Uzbekistan. Most of these remittances come from Russia. Russia badly needs the extra workers, and, until recently, the arrangement seemed to suit all parties. But the March 2024 terrorist attack on Moscow’s Crocus City Hall changed the situation. The Russian authorities detained and charged a group of Tajik nationals for the attack, and the always simmering xenophobia in Russia, particularly toward Central Asians, boiled over. New rules and restrictions have been imposed on migrant workers. Those that came into force in February this year were only the latest in a series of changes that already included mandatory fingerprinting and photographs upon entry to Russia, a reduction in the term of stay from 180 to 90 days, and an increasing list of infractions that provide grounds for deportation. In 2024, Russia expelled some 157,000 migrants who were in the country illegally, which, according to Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev, was an increase of some 50% over 2023. The Clock Is Ticking At the start of February, just before the latest regulations came into effect, Russia’s Deputy Interior Minister Aleksandr Gorovoi said there were some 670,000 foreigners living illegally in Russia. Gorovoi added that more than half were women and children, “those who entered, but we do not see that they received a patent registered with the migration service… [or] that an employment agreement was concluded with them.” On July 24, Kyrgyz media outlet AKIpress published an interview with the Kyrgyz Ambassador to Russia, Bokontayev, in which he said that at the start of July, there were some 113,000 Kyrgyz citizens on the controlled persons registry, which he referred to as the “gray list.” He also said there were some 80,000 Kyrgyz citizens on the “black list” of people barred from entering Russia. In a separate interview with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Kyrgyz Service published on July 25, Kyrgyzstan’s General Consul in Russia, Bakyt Asanaliyev, said that about 30% of the Kyrgyz citizens on the gray list are children. Ambassador Bokontayev said Kyrgyzstan’s embassy is working to make sure...

Migration

Kazakhstan Deports 10,000 Foreigners Amid Crackdown on Migration Violations

Nearly 10,000 foreign citizens have been deported from Kazakhstan since the beginning of 2025, according to First Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Baurzhan Alenov. The announcement was made during a recent government meeting addressing migration trends and enforcement measures. Alenov noted a consistent rise in the number of foreign arrivals to the country. In the first half of 2025 alone, more than 7.5 million people entered Kazakhstan, while 7.2 million departed, a net increase of 600,000 compared to the same period in 2024. Approximately 90% of those arriving are citizens of post-Soviet states. “It is important to note that 97% of foreign citizens comply with migration laws. However, more than 200,000 individuals have faced administrative penalties,” Alenov stated. “Of these, 46,000 were fined for violating residency rules, and nearly 10,000 have been deported with a five-year ban on re-entry.” In addition, over 2,000 employers were fined for the illegal employment of foreign workers. Seven criminal cases have been opened against repeat offenders. Migration Patterns and Permanent Residency As of mid-2025, approximately 212,000 foreign nationals reside in Kazakhstan on a permanent basis. The largest concentration is in Almaty (42,000), followed by the Almaty region (32,000), and both Astana and the Karaganda region (17,000 each). Over the past three years, the number of permanent foreign residents has risen by 42%. Kazakhstan also hosts around 430,000 temporary foreign residents. Of these, 360,000 are labor migrants, 17,000 arrived for family reunification, 8,000 for educational purposes, and 44,000 for tourism or private matters. Government Response and New Initiatives Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov emphasized the need for stricter enforcement of migration laws. He highlighted that over 7,000 violations were detected in May alone during nationwide operations. “Such incidents must be addressed promptly. We need to actively implement digital tools. The introduction of migrant ID cards, issued at border entry points, must be accelerated to improve monitoring and regulation,” Bektenov said. He instructed the Ministry of Internal Affairs to tighten administrative oversight and called on the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection to enhance regulation of private agencies involved in sending Kazakh citizens abroad for work. “These agencies currently operate without accountability or oversight. By year’s end, legislative amendments must be proposed to require licensing of such activities. Additionally, I instruct the Ministry of Labor to submit a draft Concept of Migration and Demographic Policy by October 1. This document should align with the Concept of Regional Policy being developed through 2030,” Bektenov concluded. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, the majority of foreign labor migrants in Kazakhstan in 2025 have come from China, Uzbekistan, Turkey, and India, working primarily in the construction sector.

Migrants

Russia Responds to Uzbekistan’s Concerns Over Police Treatment of Migrants

The Russian government has acknowledged Uzbekistan's concerns regarding recent police actions targeting Uzbek nationals and is currently reviewing the matter, according to a statement by Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, as reported by state news agency TASS. Zakharova confirmed that the Russian Foreign Ministry had received a formal diplomatic note from the Uzbek Embassy in Moscow, requesting explanations over reports of mistreatment during recent police operations. She said the contents of the note are being examined thoroughly and have been forwarded to the appropriate Russian authorities. “We are studying the content of the note with full attention,” Zakharova said. “We maintain direct communication with our Uzbek partners, including through law enforcement channels. We are allies, and all such signals are taken seriously.” Zakharova stated that Russia would provide Uzbekistan with verified and objective information following internal investigations. She also reaffirmed the strategic importance of bilateral ties. “Uzbekistan is our ally and strategic partner. We approach all issues in our bilateral relations with this in mind,” she said. Tensions Over Police Conduct The diplomatic exchange follows a statement earlier this week by Uzbek Foreign Ministry spokesperson Akhror Burkhanov, who expressed concern over the reported mistreatment of Uzbek citizens during recent police raids in Russia. In response, the Uzbek Embassy submitted a diplomatic note formally seeking clarification and legal assessment of the incidents. The most prominent of these occurred on June 8 in the Strogino district of Moscow, where Russian law enforcement reportedly raided a dormitory housing migrants, including Uzbek nationals. Videos circulated by Russian media showed officers using force, with reports of beatings and verbal abuse. A similar incident was reported in St. Petersburg. Uzbek officials emphasized that such conduct contradicts the “close and friendly” nature of Uzbek-Russian relations and called for a transparent review of law enforcement actions. Uzbekistan’s Migration Agency stated that it is closely monitoring the situation. It confirmed that a small number of Uzbek citizens were detained due to documentation issues and are currently undergoing further checks.

Russia's War

Russia: Thousands of Central Asia-Born Russians Sent to Ukraine Front Line

A senior Russian official has said that thousands of migrants from Central Asia who became Russian citizens were sent to fight in Ukraine after they tried to dodge conscription. "Our military investigations directorate conducts regular raids,” Alexander Bastrykin, head of Russia’s Investigative Committee, said on Tuesday in remarks that were reported by the Russian state-run TASS news agency. “So far, we've tracked down 80,000 such Russian citizens who didn't just avoid the front lines — they wouldn’t even show up at military enlistment offices. We’ve registered them for military service, and about 20,000 of these 'new' Russian citizens, who for some reason no longer want to live in Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, or Kyrgyzstan, are now on the front lines," Bastrykin said at the St. Petersburg International Legal Forum. Bastrykin’s comments contributed a piece to the often murky picture of the involvement of people from Central Asia in Russia’s war effort in Ukraine in the last three years. In addition to conscription measures, Russia has also sought to replenish its ranks by offering contracts and other incentives to foreigners willing to fight. Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan are among Central Asian countries that ban their nationals from fighting in foreign conflicts and there have been several high-profile prosecutions of citizens who fought for Russia and returned home. It is a sensitive political matter in Central Asia, a region that seeks to project neutrality in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Kazakhstan has said it is reviewing a report by a Ukrainian institution that said about 661 Kazakh citizens have fought for Russia since it launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The I Want To Live center, which is run by the Ukrainian security services and assists with surrender requests from soldiers fighting for Russia, published a list of what it said were the Kazakh nationals. Of the 661, at least 78 have been killed, according to the center. Without providing details, it said it received the list from its own sources within the Russian military. Uzbekistan is conducting a similar investigation based on data from the Ukrainian group.