Kyrgyzstan has rejected a proposal by some European countries to accept Kyrgyz labor migrants in exchange for the Central Asian republic taking in African and Afghan migrants currently residing in Europe.

Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Jeenbek Kulubaev announced the position in parliament, TASS reports.

“We are categorically opposed to this,” Kulubaev said.

The minister said that representatives of several European countries had previously agreed to accept workers from Kyrgyzstan on the condition that the republic also take in migrants from Africa and Afghanistan who are currently in Europe.

Kulubaev stressed that Kyrgyzstan was unwilling to continue negotiations with European countries on employment opportunities for its citizens under such conditions.

At the same time, the minister noted that Kyrgyz citizens have increasingly been finding employment in the US and Türkiye in recent years.