A high-ranking Russian official informed journalists. Assistant to the President of Russia Vladimir Putin for foreign policy issues Yuri Ushakov expressed confidence that Rahmon will not spoil his relations with Putin due to the difficult situation with Tajik migrants in Russia. “Discussions on the topic of migrants do not affect the relations between the presidents […]
A high-ranking Russian official informed journalists.
Assistant to the President of Russia Vladimir Putin for foreign policy issues Yuri Ushakov expressed confidence that Rahmon will not spoil his relations with Putin due to the difficult situation with Tajik migrants in Russia.
“Discussions on the topic of migrants do not affect the relations between the presidents of Russia and Tajikistan, Vladimir Putin and Emomali Rahmon,” Ushakov said.
According to him, the heads of state maintain “warm and friendly relations, there is no tension between them.”
“The leaders have friendly, warm relations. They know each other, communicate, and want to communicate,” noted Putin’s assistant.
These words from the Russian diplomat came against the backdrop of increasing cases of abuse by Russian security forces against migrants, particularly citizens of Tajikistan. Labor migrants complain of abuse, beatings, torture, and insults from Russian law enforcement officials.
In the past year, the authorities of Tajikistan have already called on their citizens twice to refrain from traveling to Russia unless absolutely necessary.
After the bloody attack on “Krokus City Hall” and the hostage-taking at a Volgograd prison, Russian law enforcement agencies further intensified control over Tajik citizens and tightened migration policy. In both cases, Russian authorities claim that citizens of Tajikistan were involved. Complaints indicate that Russian security forces detain and deport Tajik migrants for the slightest reasons.
Many migrants hoped that during his visit to Russia and his meeting with the Russian leader, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon would raise the issue of the oppression of labor migrants in Russia and demand respect for the rights of Tajiks. However, three days have passed, and Rahmon has not addressed the problems of migrants.
Critics are questioning on what basis the leaders of the two states are establishing their relations: based on national interests or long-standing friendship that is not affected by the difficulties and problems of the peoples?
In particular, civil activist and defender of the rights of Tajik migrants Farhod Odinaev stated in an interview with Azda TV on Wednesday:
“The top leadership of Tajikistan and even Russia, especially at the level of presidents, do not pay special attention to the problems of migrants. For example, Rahmon does not think at all about the difficulties of migrants. Among Tajik officials, a maximum of one minister can express an opinion about migrants. And even that very cautiously and briefly. I think that at the level of presidents, the topic of migrants is not discussed. There is another point. Rahmon would never dare to say anything to Putin, neither in a personal meeting nor in a letter, about the violation of the rights of Tajik migrants in Russia.”