Uzbekistan and Russia Convene Inaugural Talks on Labor Migration and Migrant Rights

On April 29, an interagency delegation from Uzbekistan, led by Deputy Prosecutor General Shohrukh Aminov, visited Moscow for the first session of the Uzbekistan-Russia working group on labor migration and migrant rights, according to the Prosecutor General’s Office of Uzbekistan.

The Russian delegation was headed by Deputy Prosecutor General Pyotr Gorodov and included representatives from the Prosecutor General’s Office, the Federal Security Service, and the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Internal Affairs, The Caspian Post reports citing foreign media.

Uzbekistan’s delegation comprised officials from the Prosecutor General’s Office, the State Security Service, the Migration Agency, and the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Internal Affairs, and Health.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed the current state of labor migration, identified ongoing challenges, and explored potential solutions. They agreed to develop joint measures to regulate legal migration while balancing the interests of both countries.

The delegations also agreed to strengthen oversight of the rights of Uzbek citizens working in Russia and Russian citizens visiting Uzbekistan. Both countries’ Prosecutor General’s Offices pledged to closely monitor the protection of migrant rights.

At the conclusion of the meeting, a protocol was signed outlining the decisions made. The implementation of these agreements will be jointly monitored by both Prosecutor General’s Offices.

The session followed Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s recent visit to Uzbekistan, during which he stressedthe importance of migrants understanding Russian laws and language. While warning of an increase in migrant-related crime, he also acknowledged Russia’s ongoing need for foreign labor.