Tajikistan Faces Surge in Deportations from Russia Amid Security Concerns
In 2024, Tajikistan saw a drastic increase in deportations from Russia, totaling over 30,000 individuals, largely due to heightened security measures following a terrorist attack. The Russian government implemented stricter migration policies, including new deadlines for undocumented migrants to leave the country or legalize their status.
In 2024, Tajikistan’s Prosecutor-General, Habibullo Vohidzoda, reported that over 30,000 Tajik citizens were deported from Russia, a substantial increase from the previous average of 1,000 per year. This surge primarily followed a terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall, which allegedly involved Tajik nationals. More than 17,000 deportations occurred directly from airports, indicating a significant escalated response from Russian authorities.
The plight of Tajik migrant workers in Russia has worsened in recent years, particularly since the onset of Russia’s military operation in Ukraine in February 2022. The terrorist incident at Crocus City Hall intensified scrutiny on Tajik migrants, with Russian authorities increasing migration controls across various regions. Following the attack, over ten regions in Russia imposed restrictions on migrant labor, reflecting heightened security concerns.
On December 30, 2024, President Vladimir Putin enacted a decree mandating that undocumented migrants in Russia must leave the country by April 30, 2025, or regularize their immigration status. Furthermore, from February 5, 2025, Russia introduced a migration expulsion regime, granting the Ministry of Internal Affairs the authority to deport migrants without court intervention, a significant shift from prior legal procedures that mandated judicial oversight.
The significant rise in deportations of Tajik migrants from Russia, reaching 30,000 in 2024, highlights the increasing pressures on migrant workers amid heightened security measures following terrorism incidents. The new legal frameworks and restrictions signal a stricter enforcement environment, complicating the lives of those employed in various Russian regions.
Original Source: asiaplustj.info
