Russia has informed Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs about its new migration policy concept for 2026–2030, approved in October 2025, Russian Ambassador to Uzbekistan Aleksey Yerkhov told RIA Novosti.
The issue was recently discussed during a meeting between Yerkhov and Deputy Foreign Minister Olimjon Abdullayev, attended by Uzbek consular officials and Russian representatives responsible for migration and law enforcement. The talks focused on improving labour migration procedures, creating more favourable conditions for the legal employment of Uzbek citizens in Russia, and strengthening consular cooperation.
Russian officials stress that the updated migration policy, approved by President Vladimir Putin on October 15, 2025, outlines measures to regulate labour inflows, tighten compliance requirements, expand digital monitoring, and improve coordination between migration and law-enforcement bodies, while acknowledging Russia’s continued demand for foreign workers. The concept forecasts that the number of labour migrants will continue to grow through 2030, driven by economic needs.
The Uzbek side stressed the importance of protecting the rights and human dignity of its citizens during migration inspections and enforcement measures, including for those found to be in violation of migration rules. Both sides reaffirmed interest in maintaining regular consultations to address emerging issues.
Earlier reports show that labour migration remains a key issue in bilateral relations. According to Uzbek official data, the number of citizens seeking work abroad increased 1.38 times year-on-year to 1.86mn in January–September 2025, while the number of Uzbek labour migrants in Russia is estimated at around 1.3mn.
