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Prisons

Uzbek Diplomats Visit Prisoners in Russia’s Sakhalin Region

Officials from Uzbekistan’s Consulate General have visited Uzbek nationals serving prison sentences in Russia’s Sakhalin region to discuss their living conditions, health, and requests for transfer back to Uzbekistan, according to Uzbekistan’s state-run news agency Dunyo. The meeting took place at Correctional Institution No. 1 in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk during a working visit by consular staff. Dunyo reported that eleven Uzbek citizens are currently incarcerated at the facility after being convicted under various articles of Russia’s Criminal Code. During the visit, consular representatives inspected residential quarters, dining areas, and recreation facilities before holding a group meeting with the prisoners. Discussions focused on detention conditions and inmates’ well-being. According to the report, Uzbek officials also warned prisoners that joining foreign military formations could lead to criminal liability under Uzbek law. The issue has drawn attention since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, amid repeated warnings to Central Asian migrants against joining foreign military units. The incarcerated Uzbek citizens reportedly said they were generally satisfied with prison conditions. However, many expressed concerns over prolonged separation from family members and requested assistance in being transferred to Uzbekistan to serve the remainder of their sentences closer to home. Consular staff provided contact details for the Uzbek diplomatic mission and told inmates they could seek support if problems arose during detention. The visit comes amid broader discussions over the transfer of foreign prisoners between Russia and Central Asian countries. Earlier, Russia’s Human Rights Commissioner, Tatyana Moskalkova, said Moscow was prepared to facilitate the transfer of more than 3,000 Uzbek citizens convicted in Russia. However, she noted that the process remains blocked because Uzbekistan has not ratified the 1998 Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons. The issue extends beyond Uzbekistan. Last month, Moskalkova said she had received a positive response from the Tajik authorities, including President Emomali Rahmon, regarding the possible transfer of around 200 Tajik women serving prison terms in Russia on humanitarian grounds. Labor migration from Central Asia to Russia has created a growing number of cases involving citizens imprisoned abroad, increasing pressure on governments in the region to improve legal assistance, consular access, and mechanisms for prisoner transfers. The visit shows Uzbekistan is maintaining consular access to citizens held in Russian prisons, even as a broader transfer mechanism remains unresolved.

Prisons

Russia Seeks Transfer of 200 Tajik Women Prisoners After Dushanbe Approval

Russia’s human rights commissioner Tatyana Moskalkova has received a positive response from Emomali Rahmon regarding the possible transfer of around 200 Tajik women currently serving sentences in Russian prisons, according to TASS. Moskalkova said she had written to the Tajik president requesting that the women be allowed to continue serving their sentences in Tajikistan on humanitarian grounds. “In each case, we must carefully weigh issues of justice, mercy, and humanism,” she said in an interview with TASS. She noted that while most cases confirm that crimes were committed, the severity of punishment should not always be maximal. “Sometimes leniency helps a person reform, repent, and change for the better. That is why we try in each case to find arguments that could support leniency, especially for women,” she said. According to Moskalkova, foreign women prisoners face additional challenges, including limited access to family visits and difficulties receiving parcels from relatives. These factors were among the reasons behind her appeal to Tajik authorities. She also pointed to broader policy developments in Russia’s penal system, citing improvements in detention conditions under the country’s penal reform strategy through 2030. Moskalkova highlighted recent legislation limiting pretrial detention for women with young children who have committed non-violent offenses. In addition, she said she has repeatedly asked courts to grant deferrals of sentences for women with children under the age of 14, thanking the judiciary for what she described as “understanding and positive decisions” in such cases. Earlier this month, Moskalkova said Russia was prepared to facilitate the transfer of more than 3,000 Uzbek nationals convicted in Russia to serve their sentences in Uzbekistan. However, she noted that the process remains stalled due to legal constraints, including Uzbekistan’s failure to ratify the 1998 Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons.

Prisons

Kazakh Chamber of Entrepreneurs Encourages Businesses to Launch Production Facilities in Prisons

Kazakhstan’s National Chamber of Entrepreneurs "Atameken" and the Committee of the Penal System (CES) under the Ministry of Internal Affairs have discussed the potential for establishing private production facilities inside the country’s correctional institutions. The initiative was presented during a meeting organized by Atameken, Kazakhstan’s largest business association, representing 1.4 million members across 203 industry associations. The discussion focused on practical mechanisms for facilitating business engagement with correctional institutions. “It is important for businesses to understand the real opportunities and economic benefits of working with correctional facilities. The Chamber is prepared to support projects at every stage, offering both advisory and organizational assistance,” said Almat Askar, Managing Director of the Manufacturing Industry Department at Atameken. According to Askar, Atameken is working with government agencies to develop mechanisms that encourage businesses to create jobs for inmates and set up production facilities within the industrial zones of correctional facilities. Guldana Sharipova, Head of the Convict Labor Organization Department at the CES, noted that legislative amendments offering incentives for businesses are already in progress. “We are interested in companies not only launching operations within correctional facilities but also in hiring convicts to work outside the colonies,” she said. According to the World Prison Population List, Kazakhstan ranked 89th out of 222 countries in 2024 in terms of the number of prisoners per 100,000 population. Approximately 35,000 individuals are held in 78 correctional institutions nationwide. Of these, about 23,000 are eligible to work, yet only slightly more than 12,000 are officially employed. Currently, 280 private enterprises operate within the industrial zones of correctional institutions, employing 5,000 inmates. These facilities manufacture products ranging from workwear and building materials to furniture, souvenirs, and consumer goods. This initiative comes alongside broader efforts by the Kazakh government to improve the business climate, including a recent reduction in inspections of private enterprises.