She noted that she often receives requests for assistance from citizens of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan in helping to return their relatives who are in Russian prisons.
“Unfortunately, due to the long waiting times for the consideration of applications, as well as discrepancies between national and international norms, many issues remain unresolved. Difficulties related to the translation of documents, poor knowledge of the Russian language, and challenges with sending parcels significantly exacerbate the situation for these individuals,” added Moskalkova.
Justice Minister Konstantin Chuychenko presented statistics showing that in 2025, Russia transferred twice as many foreign convicts to their home countries compared to 2024, and 4.5 times more than in 2022. He emphasized the need to “maintain the pace” and strive for a “significant reduction” in the number of foreign citizens in the Russian penitentiary system.
According to the minister, transferring convicts to their home countries “significantly alleviates” the burden on Russia's criminal enforcement system. It also creates more favorable conditions for their rehabilitation and return to normal life.
