Labor Migrants in Russia: Deportation or War

News:

In the Samara region of Russia, Tajik migrants were given an ultimatum: if they refuse to participate in the war in Ukraine, they will face deportation, reports Radio Ozodi. According to the publication, an appeal from the regional authorities to Tajik migrants permanently residing in the region was conveyed by Sunnatullo Nazriev - the head of the public organization, “Regional National-Cultural Autonomy of Tajiks of the Samara Region.”

Nazriev published an appeal in the WhatsApp group of Tajik migrants in Samara, after which the message was distributed on social networks. Nazriev addressed the Tajiks, promising simplified acquisition of citizenship for those who take part in the so-called “special military operation.” Otherwise, he said, they will face lifelong deportation along with all family members.

Comment:

After a serious scandal erupted around this message, Nazriev said that his words were misunderstood and he, as he put it, “was only conveying the message of the Russian authorities”, clarifying that his appeal concerned only those Tajiks who already have Russian citizenship.

Recently, in the Tajik-language segment of social networks, especially in Telegram channels aimed at migrants, reports about the recruitment of Central Asians for the war in Ukraine have become more frequent. These messages contain tempting offers to earn 1 million rubles and promises of elite status in special military units. For example, one of these advertising posts in the channel “Migrants - everything as it is” sounds like this: “Urgent! Hurry up to get 1,000,000 rubles and get into the elite regiment of the Moscow region”. Recruiters also promise a monthly salary of 200 thousand rubles, first-class equipment, including drones and thermal imagers, as well as training from top-class instructors.

Russian authorities continue to use Muslims as cannon fodder in their war. For this purpose, both Muslims from Russian regions and labor migrants are used. Statistics show that the Kremlin is placing its main emphasis on mobilization from the Volga, Urals and Caucasus regions, as well as on labor migrants from Central Asia.

Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by
Muhammad Mansour