Uzbek Diaspora - The Times Of Central Asia

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Uzbek Diaspora

Over 100,000 Uzbek Workers Recruited to Work in Russia in 2025

Around 106,000 citizens of Uzbekistan went to work in Russia in 2025 through organised recruitment programs, according to a report prepared by Rahim Khakimov, Deputy Adviser to the President of Uzbekistan, and cited by the Russian state news agency TASS. The report states that about 50,000 of these workers were employed by major companies, including Gazprom, Lukoil, Kamaz, AvtoVAZ, Ozon, and SPAR. Overall, an estimated 1.3 million Uzbek citizens are currently working in Russia on a temporary basis. The document also highlights ongoing efforts to simplify labor migration procedures. Agreements reached in 2025 provide for the partial transfer of work patent processing stages to Uzbekistan, allowing migrants to complete key formalities before departure. Authorities also plan to expand Russian-language testing by opening new centres in the cities of Jizzakh and Andijan to better serve the densely populated Fergana Valley, where nearly one-third of the country’s population lives. At the same time, migration trends are gradually shifting. According to Uzbekistan’s Central Bank, Uzbek labor migrants are no longer concentrated solely in traditional destinations such as Russia, Kazakhstan, South Korea, and Turkey. Increasing numbers are seeking employment opportunities in Europe and other parts of Asia. This diversification is reflected in remittance flows. Data show that transfers to Uzbekistan from the United Kingdom have increased by 39% in recent years, while remittances from European Union countries have risen by 37%. Significant growth has also been recorded from countries such as Ireland, Croatia, Slovakia, Lithuania, and the Netherlands, as well as from the United States and South Korea. Analysts attribute this trend to stable demand for labor abroad, relatively steady wage levels, and favorable currency exchange rates. According to the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Uzbek labor migrants typically send home between $200 and $300 per month. Separate estimates from the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford suggest that migrants in the United Kingdom remit between £1,000 and £3,300 annually per person. Overall, the average yearly remittance per recipient in Uzbekistan is estimated at between $2,000 and $4,000. Alongside these broader trends, consular support for Uzbek citizens abroad continues. On March 22, the Dunyo news agency reported that representatives of Uzbekistan’s embassy visited a Temporary Detention Center for Foreign Citizens in Russia’s Tula region. During the visit, Consul General Mehriddin Khairiddinov reviewed living conditions and held talks with Russian officials on accelerating document processing and facilitating the return of detained Uzbek nationals. “Supporting fellow citizens and providing them with the necessary assistance remain among the priority tasks of the diplomatic mission,” Khairiddinov said, emphasizing that the protection of citizens’ rights is a key principle of Uzbekistan’s state policy.

Uzbek Diaspora

Uzbek Woman Killed in Traffic Accident in New York

A citizen of Uzbekistan has died following a traffic accident in New York City. The incident occurred on March 10 and resulted in the death of 31-year-old Nilufar Komilova, according to Uzbekistan’s state news agency Dunyo. Preliminary information cited by the agency indicates that the accident involved a dump truck operated by the New York City Department of Transportation. The crash took place in the Kew Gardens neighborhood in the borough of Queens. Police told the New York Daily News that Komilova was struck by a yellow Mack dump truck as it made a right turn from Metropolitan Avenue onto Lefferts Boulevard shortly before 9 a.m. She died at the scene. Akobir Azizov, described as a close family friend, told the newspaper that Komilova had just taken her seven-year-old daughter to school and was walking home when the accident occurred about two blocks from her apartment. “She usually takes Lefferts Boulevard,” Azizov said. “She always followed traffic rules. She would wait for the signal to cross the street.” Komilova is survived by two children, a three-year-old son and a seven-year-old daughter. Azizov said relatives have struggled to explain the tragedy to them. According to the report, Komilova’s husband, who works as a driver for the ride-hailing service Uber, became aware of the accident after trying unsuccessfully to contact her. Uzbek officials said the Consulate General of Uzbekistan in New York is in regular contact with the family and is providing consular and legal assistance. The diplomatic mission has also expressed condolences. The incident follows another fatal traffic accident involving an Uzbek national earlier this year. On February 5, an 11-year-old girl from Uzbekistan was struck by a school bus in the Bath Beach neighborhood of Brooklyn and later died at Maimonides Medical Center. In February, Uzbekistan introduced amendments to its law “On Burial and Funeral Services,” published on the government legal portal Lex.uz. The changes allow state financial assistance for transporting the remains of Uzbek citizens who die abroad, a measure aimed at easing the financial burden on migrant families.

Uzbek Diaspora

Uzbek Janitor Who Saved Child in St. Petersburg Receives Awards and Ticket Home

Khayrullo Ibadullayev, an Uzbek migrant worker who saved a child from falling out of a seventh-floor window in St. Petersburg, has received official recognition in both Russia and Uzbekistan, as well as a return air ticket to his home country. According to the press service of Uzbekistan’s Migration Agency under the Cabinet of Ministers, the agency presented Ibadullayev with a plane ticket to Uzbekistan and thanked him for his bravery. Officials stated that his actions had strengthened the image and reputation of Uzbek citizens working abroad. Ibadullayev was also awarded the Jasorat medal by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, a state decoration given for acts of courage. His wife, Gullola Safarova, expressed gratitude to the Uzbek authorities. “First of all, I want to thank our President for awarding my husband the Jasorat medal and honoring him so highly,” she said. Safarova recalled that when her husband called and told the family he was holding a child in his arms, they were initially alarmed. “When he said he had caught a child who fell from above, the first thing we asked about was the child’s health. We were happy and told him he did the right thing,” she said. She added that her husband had previously demonstrated similar compassion. In 2025, he reportedly donated blood during a child’s surgery, contributing to saving the patient’s life. Russian state news agency TASS reported that St. Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov presented Ibadullayev with the “For Valor in Rescue” distinction during a ceremony at the Smolny government complex. According to the city administration’s press service, Beglov said: “You did not think about yourself. You were injured but saved the life of a seven-year-old child. Our entire city thanks you.” Ibadullayev, who has been working in St. Petersburg since December 2025 for a cleaning company, also received a commemorative watch from the governor. The child survived the fall and was hospitalized. Officials have described his condition as stable.

Uzbek Diaspora

Uzbek Janitor Awarded for Saving Child from Seventh-Floor Fall in St. Petersburg

A janitor from Uzbekistan who saved a seven-year-old boy from a seventh-floor fall in St. Petersburg has been awarded state and public honors following the dramatic rescue. The Times of Central Asia reported yesterday that the incident took place on Petrozavodskaya Street, where the child was seen standing on the ledge outside an open window. Moments later, the boy lost his balance and fell. A janitor identified as Khayrullo, a native of Uzbekistan, was working near the building at the time. He noticed the danger and moved closer. As the child fell headfirst, Khayrullo caught him midair and held him tightly against his body, absorbing much of the impact. According to a presidential decree, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev awarded Khayrullo Saydullayevich Ibadullayev the Jasorat medal for bravery. The decree stated that he acted in an emergency situation, risking his own life and health to save the child and demonstrating courage and selflessness. Russian media also reported on the recognition. Margarita Simonyan, editor-in-chief of the television network RT, announced on X that the 38-year-old Uzbek citizen had received the fourth Tigran Keosayan Award for his heroism. The award, established by Simonyan, is presented to individuals who demonstrate bravery and dedication, particularly in protecting children and vulnerable people. In addition to the honor, Ibadullayev will receive a monetary prize of one million rubles, equivalent to approximately $13 000. The child survived the fall and was hospitalized. Doctors described his condition as stable.

Uzbek Diaspora

Uzbek Janitor Saves 7-Year-Old Boy from Apartment Fall in St. Petersburg

A janitor from Uzbekistan saved a seven-year-old boy who fell from a seventh-floor window in St. Petersburg, according to the news outlet ExpressAsia. The incident occurred on Petrozavodskaya Street, where the child was seen standing on the ledge outside an open window. Neighbors shouted, urging him to return indoors, but he did not respond. Moments later, the boy lost his balance, slipped from the partition, and fell. At the time, a janitor identified as Khayrullo, a native of Uzbekistan, was working near the building. He was the first to notice the open window and the child playing near it. The man called out to the boy and, realizing that the child was climbing further outside and risked falling, moved closer to the building. As the boy fell headfirst, Khayrullo managed to catch him midair. Holding the child tightly against his body, he absorbed much of the impact. He then carried the boy into the building entrance and attempted to provide assistance while neighbors called an ambulance. The child survived and is currently in intensive care. Doctors have described his condition as stable. Khayrullo sustained bruises but did not suffer serious injuries. The building’s management company stated that he has been employed there for only a few months. ExpressAsia highlighted that the incident could have ended in tragedy without the janitor’s quick reaction. The outlet has previously reported similar incidents involving Central Asian migrants in Russia. In one recent case in Moscow, a taxi driver originally from Kyrgyzstan noticed a car speeding toward a pedestrian crossing where children were present. With little time to react, he opened his car door to draw the driver’s attention and prompt him to slow down. The maneuver helped prevent a possible collision, and no injuries were reported.