Tensions flare as Tajikistan condemns Russia's mass deportation and poor treatment

Tajik and Russian media widely reported on Monday on the dramatic situation of Tajikistan's citizens following a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan about the situation at Moscow's airports. On Saturday, 27 April, this ministry urged its citizens to avoid travelling to Russia unless absolutely necessary.

From 26 to 30 April, Tajikistan citizens were deported from Russia. More than 100 others are awaiting repatriation. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that delays in passport control at Russian borders are temporary and affect everyone entering the country, regardless of nationality.

The entry checks for foreigners into Russia have been tightened due to the intensification of efforts aimed at preventing terrorism in Russia. However, the authorities in Dushanbe argue that these restrictions specifically target Tajikistani citizens.

That same day, at the request of the Russian side, a conversation took place between the foreign ministers of both countries - Sirodjidin Muhridddin and Sergey Lavrov. According to the Tajik Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, Muhridddin emphasized that such negative attitudes towards citizens of Tajikistan and the widespread violation of their rights and freedoms do not correspond to the principles of bilateral relations.

Lavrov responded that the measures taken by the Russian services to prevent terrorism are temporary and are not directed against any specific nation or religion. However, his counterpart did not agree with this statement. It is unknown whether both speakers reached any agreement, as the ministry's statement contains no information.

After the terrorist attack in March in Krasnogorsk near Moscow, where about 140 people died and several Tajiks were detained as suspects, anti-immigrant sentiments in Russia have intensified; these feelings are primarily directed at workers from Central Asian countries such as Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan. It is estimated that between 2 and 3 million immigrants live there, typically performing the hardest and least-paid jobs.

Attacks on migrants are both spontaneous and instigated by the authorities. However, experts believe that such a policy is very short-sighted. After all, the Russian economy cannot be managed without cheap labour from post-Soviet states.