The Ombudsman of Uzbekistan, Feruza Eshmatova, has reached out to her Russian counterpart, Tatyana Moskalkova, expressing deep concern over the reported abuse of migrant workers in Yekaterinburg. The appeal, made on January 22, calls for urgent measures to ensure the labor rights of citizens of Uzbekistan working in Russia.
The incident in question occurred on January 17, as authorities in Yekaterinburg, including the prosecutor's office, the FSB department for the Sverdlovsk region, the regional migration department, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, conducted a raid on a construction site. The operation involved the forceful testing of 150 people, revealing eight individuals who violated immigration laws and now face deportation.
The harsh scenes from the raid, captured in photos and videos circulating online, depict security forces compelling migrant workers, including those from Uzbekistan, to traverse a snow-covered construction site in single file. The incident has sparked widespread concern about the treatment of migrant workers and the potential infringement of their rights.
The specific number of Uzbek citizens involved is not specified. Eshmatova's previous visit to Russia in 2023 laid the groundwork for cooperation between Uzbekistan and Russia's ombudsmen to address such concerns collectively.
In response to the reported incident, Ombudsman of the Sverdlovsk region Tatyana Merzlyakova expressed disbelief, noting that such cases are atypical for Yekaterinburg, URA.RU reported.
The Ombudsman's office of Uzbekistan underscored the commitment to joint efforts between the two nations to address concerns raised by migrant workers. The message states,
"Cooperation will be established between the ombudsmen of Uzbekistan and Russia, and work will be carried out to jointly consider appeals, as well as ensure the rights of fellow citizens working in the territory of the Russian Federation."
This incident is not isolated, as both Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan have faced similar situations involving their migrant workers in Russia. Previously, the Ombudsman of Uzbekistan responded to raids on workplaces in Krasnodar, prompting the Russian Ombudsman to conduct monitoring activities to safeguard the rights of migrants.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan has also initiated proceedings, with the Consulate General in Yekaterinburg conducting visits to assess the situation. While it confirmed no violations of migration laws by Kyrgyz citizens, the ministry expressed concern over the dignity of citizens engaged in labor activities being degraded during law enforcement actions.
Earlier Daryo reported that Zakhar Prilepin, a former deputy and current Russian propagandist-official suggested a straightforward solution to potential conflicts stemming from migration: to mitigate issues, he recommended increasing the Russian population. His argument emphasized that a higher number of Russians would lead to fewer problems related to misbehavior. Additionally, he proposed the annexation of territories from which guest workers arrive in Russia.
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