On January 26, Uzbekistan's Deputy Foreign Minister Olimjon Abdullaev met with Russian Ambassador Alexey Erkhov, as reported by the press service of the Uzbek Foreign Ministry.
During the meeting, issues concerning the protection of the rights of Uzbek citizens working in Russia were discussed. The meeting was also attended by the Consuls General of Uzbekistan and representatives from the Russian consular service, migration authorities, and law enforcement agencies.
The Uzbek side emphasized the critical importance of preventing any violations of the rights and dignity of Uzbek citizens, including those who may violate migration laws, during inspections and raids, according to a statement released after the meeting.
The parties agreed on the necessity of regular meetings and consular consultations to improve cooperation and interaction.
This meeting between the Deputy Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan and the Russian ambassador took place just a week after President Shavkat Mirziyoyev expressed his concerns about the violations of the rights of Uzbeks abroad. At a meeting on January 15, he noted public dissatisfaction regarding the infringement of the rights of labor migrants during raids, and he believed that the Foreign Ministry's response to these violations was insufficient.
Mirziyoyev stressed that diplomats are obliged to provide qualified legal assistance and protect the interests of Uzbek citizens abroad.
The president also urged ambassadors to abandon "office diplomacy" and instead actively visit the workplaces and educational institutions of their compatriots to better understand their problems and find solutions.
It is worth noting that Russia's migration policy has significantly tightened in recent years, complicating the lives of Uzbek labor migrants who view this country as a primary destination for labor migration.
