Tajikistan Urges Citizens to Avoid Travel to Russia

The Tajik Embassy in Moscow, citing increased security measures and heightened document checks by Russian border guards, has advised its citizens to refrain from traveling to Russia until further notice. This warning was issued on Tuesday, September 20, in a statement where the Tajik Embassy in Russia reported that strict controls have been implemented at border crossings and airports in Russia, and "therefore, Tajik citizens are advised not to come to Russia." The Tajik representation in Russia did not provide further details, but in recent months, Russia has barred thousands of Tajik citizens from entering or has expelled them from the country. The Tajik Ministry of Labor and Employment announced that over 17,000 Tajik citizens have been expelled from Russia in the past six months. According to the Tajik section of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Tajik migrants in Russia say that the situation in the country is becoming increasingly difficult for Tajik citizens. These migrants report that the Russian police treat them with "nationalistic and racist sentiments" and expel anyone they wish. The Russian police report daily arrests and expulsions of "illegal" migrants. Last week, the Kyrgyz Ministry of Foreign Affairs also issued a similar statement for its citizens citing similar reasons. Following a deadly attack at the "Krokus" entertainment center near Moscow in March that left over 140 dead and hundreds injured, migrant workers and tourists from Central Asia have faced increased scrutiny from Russian officials. After this attack, Russia detained 12 suspects, most of whom were said to be from Tajikistan. On September 3 of this year, news emerged that Russian security forces had killed four prisoners who identified themselves as members of ISIS and had taken hostages and killed four people in a prison in the southwest of the country. A video was released showing these four hostage-takers standing with knives next to the bodies of prison officers, claiming to be members of ISIS. A regional Telegram channel identified these four prisoners as two citizens of Uzbekistan and two citizens of Tajikistan. Russia, whose military and security agencies are heavily involved in the war against Ukraine, has also witnessed attacks from Islamist militants since then. Tajikistan, as a Central Asian country facing economic difficulties, has long been experiencing significant emigration of its citizens to Russia in search of work. Various estimates suggest that about one million Tajik migrants live and work in Russia. According to the Tajik section of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, most migrants say that after the attack on "Krokus," the pressures have reached a level that life and work in Russia have become "intolerable." In April of this year, the Tajik Ministry of Foreign Affairs had also urged the residents of the country to temporarily refrain from traveling to Russia unless necessary.