Tajik Migrants Flee Russia Amid Rising Attacks and Deportations
The Ministry of Labor, Migration, and Employment of Tajikistan has observed an exodus of migrant workers from Russia in the wake of a terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall, which claimed 144 lives and resulted in 551 injuries. Additionally, there has been a rise in nationality-based attacks.
4:29 AM EDT, March 31, 2024
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"We are receiving many phone calls," said Deputy Minister Shakhnoza Nodiri. "There's widespread fear among our citizens. Many are panicking and want to leave. We're keeping an eye on the situation. Currently, more people are returning to Tajikistan than leaving," emphasized Nodiri.
Raids and widespread inspections by authorities
The Ministry is hopeful that this wave of departures will be temporary and come to an end soon. It has issued an appeal to "avoid falling for provocative online messages intended to instigate ethnic hatred."
The Deputy Minister also mentioned that Tajik citizens face "daily" harassment, and the ministry's office in Russia received threatening messages after the terrorist attack.
On March 29, the human rights initiative "First Department" reported a large-scale operation in St. Petersburg by law enforcement to identify and deport foreigners lacking proper residency rights.
A lawyer advocating for some of these foreigners stated that there has been a significant increase in deportations, particularly noticeable at Pulkovo Airport.
Following the terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall's concert venue, Russian police reported the capture of four individuals from Tajikistan involved in the attack and several alleged accomplices. Their treatment during interrogation has drawn criticism and raised concerns about the reliability of their statements.
There has also been an uptick in checks on people with "oriental appearances" in Moscow.
In response to the attack, some residents in Russian cities are avoiding taxis driven by Tajiks, and Tajik diaspora leaders have advised their community members to stay indoors during the evening. A hairdressing salon, employing one of the detainees for just under three months, started receiving widespread threats.
According to the Russian BBC service, there has been a significant increase in cases before Moscow courts related to breaches of Russian Federation's entry regulations.
On March 27, a raid at the Wildberrier warehouse in Elektrostal, near Moscow, led to several detentions and deportations by migration services to the military registration and enlistment office.
Terrorist attack on Crocus City Hall
On March 22, terrorists targeted attendees at a concert in Crocus City Hall with gunfire and explosives, igniting a fire that caused the building's roof to collapse.
The Moscow branch of the Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations reported on Saturday that the attack resulted in 144 deaths and 551 injuries.
The Islamic State's Khorasan Province, an Afghan branch of the Islamic State group (IS), has claimed responsibility for this heinous act.
