Central Asian Migrants Face New Challenges as Russia Tightens Rules

The World Bank's latest report underscores the extensive challenge of labor migration in Europe and Central Asia, highlighting that the region hosts approximately 100 million migrants, about a third of the global total. Traditionally, Russia has been the primary destination for migrant workers from Central Asia. However, since March 2024, Russia's stricter migration policies have forced these countries to address the dual issues of managing returning workers and reorganizing cross-border labor logistics.

By 2023, over 80% of labor migrants from Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan found work in Russia, while migration from Uzbekistan was more varied, with 57% heading to Russia and others to Kazakhstan and Ukraine. For many, remittances are crucial; in 2024, these funds made up nearly half of Tajikistan’s GDP, the highest worldwide, and significant portions for Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan as well.

Tensions have risen following the onset of the Ukraine conflict, with Russian media and politicians increasingly hostile towards Central Asian migrants. After a terrorist attack in Moscow allegedly involving Tajik nationals in March 2024, Russia enacted more rigorous measures, including mass inspections and restricting foreign SIM cards, complicating life for migrants.

Kazakhstan was the first to react, contemplating measures against Russian citizens in response. Despite these developments, Central Asian countries lack comprehensive strategies to tackle the evolving migration landscape. In Kazakhstan, the government noted a rising number of Tajik migrants settling permanently, prompting discussions on improving migration monitoring.

Uzbekistan is taking a proactive approach, partnering with the EU to establish a Migrant Resource Center in Tashkent, aiming to direct labor flows towards Europe. Meanwhile, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are still evaluating the impact, with Kyrgyzstan experiencing tensions in local labor markets and Tajikistan planning a long-term migration strategy without immediate details.

With Russia’s migration policies tightening, Central Asian nations are under pressure to reassess their economic dependencies and develop effective migration strategies to adapt to the changing geopolitical environment.