On January 26, Deputy Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan Olimjon Abdullaev met with Russian Ambassador Alexey Erkhov, as reported by the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
During the negotiations, issues concerning the protection of the rights of Uzbek citizens working in Russia were discussed. The meeting also included the participation of the Consuls General of Uzbekistan from various Russian regions and representatives of migration services and law enforcement agencies of Russia.
“The Uzbek side emphasized the need to prevent any violations of the rights and human dignity of its citizens, both law-abiding and those who may violate migration legislation, during inspections and raids,” the official statement said.
The parties agreed on the importance of regular consular meetings and consultations to improve cooperation and interaction.
This meeting took place just a week after President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev expressed concern about the violations of the rights of Uzbeks abroad. At a meeting on January 15, he noted that the public is dissatisfied with how the rights of labor migrants are often ignored during raids, and the response from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is insufficient.
“Ambassadors and consuls must provide qualified legal assistance and protect the interests of our citizens abroad in every case,” Mirziyoyev stated.
The president also noted that diplomats should leave "office diplomacy" and go to the places where compatriots work and study to better understand their problems and work on their solutions.
In recent years, in Russia, which is the main destination for Uzbeks seeking to earn money, migration policy has become stricter, significantly complicating the lives of labor migrants from Uzbekistan.
