Kyrgyzstan Advises Citizens to Avoid Travel to Russia Amid Tensions

The Kyrgyzstan Ministry of Foreign Affairs has urged its citizens, temporarily, avoid, travel to Russia unless absolutely necessary, citing media reports of "mass refusal of entry" and tightened security measures at Russian border points. The ministry recommends, citizens, temporarily, avoid that citizens delay their trips until Russia lifts these measures and checks in advance for any entry restrictions.

Why this matters: This advisory highlights the escalating tensions between Russia and Central Asian countries, which could have significant implications for regional relations and the economies of countries heavily reliant on remittances from migrant workers. The treatment of Central Asian nationals in Russia could also set a precedent for how other countries handle citizens, countries, detained migrant workers, making this a story with broader regional and global implications.

This advisory comes after a similar warning was issued by Tajikistan last weekend, urging its citizens to avoid travel to Russia due to concerns about the treatment of Tajik nationals being held in detention facilities in Moscow airports. Tajikistan's foreign ministry summoned Russia's ambassador on Monday to protest the unfair treatment of itscitizens, with nearly 1,000 Tajik citizens stranded in unsanitary conditions at Moscow's Vnukovo airport since April 27.

The tensions between Russia and Central Asian countries, including Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, have been escalating since a deadly attack at the Crocus City Hall on the outskirts of Moscow on March 22, which led to a backlash of suspicion, harassment, and violence towards Central Asian migrants in Russia. Russia has placed around a dozen people, including 11 Tajiks and a Kyrgyz-born man, in pre-trial detention in connection with the attack claimed by the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group.

In response to the situation, Russia has attempted to ease tensions with Tajikistan, stating that anti-terrorism measures were being implemented and that Tajik citizens had not been targeted for mistreatment. Russia's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Russia had temporarily tightened controls on its border as a counter-terrorism measure but was taking steps to resolve long delays at the frontier. Russia has also tried to mollify Kyrgyzstan over a police search of the Moscow apartment of a Kyrgyz diplomat last month.

The current situation has sparked concerns over the treatment of Central Asian nationals in Russia, leading to a rare dispute between post-Soviet allies. Central Asian economies, including those of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, heavily rely on remittances from millions of migrant laborers working in Russia. As thousands of migrants from Central Asia line up at Russian airports awaiting digitization and filtering processes, the governments of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan are grappling with the issues their citizens face while traveling to Russia.

The Kyrgyzstan foreign ministry stated that it has not received any information about a "mass refusal of entry" into Russia for Kyrgyz nationals. However, it is closely monitoring the situation in Russia and its impact on the legal status of Kyrgyz citizens. The ministry advises its citizens who do not have compelling reasons to travel to Russia to temporarily refrain from doing so until the additional security measures and enhanced control regime for crossing the state border are lifted.

Key Takeaways

• Kyrgyzstan advises citizens to temporarily avoid travel to Russia due to tightened security measures.
• Tajikistan issued a similar warning, citing concerns over treatment of Tajik nationals in Russia.
• Tensions between Russia and Central Asian countries escalated after a deadly attack in Moscow.
• Central Asian economies rely heavily on remittances from migrant workers in Russia.
• Russia claims anti-terrorism measures are being implemented, but Central Asian countries remain concerned.