Russia seems to be preparing for a real-world war - Batir Shermukhammad

If hostilities in Russia were to intensify, what would Uzbekistan’s options be for returning migrants?  In an interview with QALAMPIR.UZ lawyer Batirjan Shermuhammad, an expert on migration issues, answered this question, with «it is difficult».

Comparing the situation with the one during the pandemic, he reminded us that the embassy had great difficultly in bringing back one hundred thousand people, never mind several million.  In such a situation, the government of Uzbekistan should be concerned about the situation of Uzbek migrants in Russia and should take steps in advance to prepare for emergencies.

“The task of the state is to predict and analyze such trends in advance.  There are not ordinary workers upstairs, but highly educated people, big professionals.  On that basis, he must tell us what to do if war breaks out tomorrow, or the situation becomes serious.  He must take measures in advance,” said the expert.

He also says that the situation in Russia is more serious than we know.

“We have even seen the publication of maps of bomb shelters in Russian cities.  That is, it seems that preparations for real-world war are underway.  If this is the case, then we need to clarify whether someone will let the Uzbeks into these cellars, what will be their attitude to them?”, - said Batirjan Shermuhammad.

The expert compared this situation to the situation during the pandemic.

During the pandemic, migrants were the first to be left on the streets.  They were the first to lose their contracts, all places were closed and they had no money.

Simply put, employers persecuted migrants.  «None of their rights were protected», - stated the lawyer about past occurrences.

He said that the government should be prepared for anything in such a situation and warned that overnight stays of migrants at the border during a pandemic could happen again.

Who, besides the government, will control, analyze and take preventive measures?  We act only when there is trouble.  If we return how many trains, how many planes will be brought?  I think that the government does not have the answers to these questions, - says the expert.

Recall that on 21 September, President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on partial mobilization in Russia, according to which 300 thousand Russian citizens will be sent to the front at the first stage.

After the decision to mobilize, Kirill Kabanov, a member of the Human Rights Council under the President of Russia, stated that new citizens of the Russian Federation with Russian citizenship of fewer than 10 years are citizens of Central Asian countries: and will perform compulsory military service for one year.  This applies to citizens who have moved from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.