Death of the Russian General raises fears of tension toward Uzbek migrants

The recent assassination of Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, head of the Radiation, Chemical, and Biological Protection Troops of the Russian Armed Forces, in Moscow has raised concerns about potential pressure on Uzbek migrants living in Russia. The situation intensified after it was revealed that the main suspect in the case was Akhmad Kurbanov, a 29-year-old Uzbek citizen.

In response to the incident, the State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs urged Russian citizens to avoid anti-migrant sentiment. The chairman of the committee, Leonid Kalashnikov, addressed the issue in an interview with Daily Storm, emphasizing that unrest in Russia would only benefit "Ukraine and populists."

According to Kalashnikov, the assassination of the general had two primary objectives — to eliminate a senior figure in the Russian Armed Forces and to provoke unrest and animosity toward migrants in the country.

“Therefore, it is not necessary to blame the Uzbeks for everything. If a Russian did something somewhere, does this mean that everything is bad in our country? Of course not, this is a very primitive view. There is no point in simply linking relations between states to one Uzbek. Our task is to make sure that all migrants who come here to work do not wander around on the streets and are not left unattended,” Kalashnikov stated.

Zatulin also called for the removal of Russia's unilateral moratorium on the death penalty, particularly in cases involving terrorism. He proposed that Russia's Constitution should permit the death penalty for terrorists who target children, students, and military personnel.

“I have repeatedly proposed the introduction of the death penalty, provided that it is considered by a jury, in our Constitution, for persons who commit terrorist acts in kindergartens, schools, universities, as well as against our military personnel defending the homeland during military operations,” Zatulin said.

“An attempt to blame Uzbekistan and its relations with it for the terrorist attack is, in essence, to accuse the Republic of Uzbekistan of complicity in the crime committed. Does anyone suspect President Mirziyoyev of aiding the killers of General Kirillov? There is no such evidence. But there is absolutely clear evidence that those who call for revenge against Uzbeks or Tajiks are, knowingly or unknowingly, following someone else's orders,” Zatulin emphasized.

Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, head of the Radiation, Chemical, and Biological Protection Troops of the Russian Armed Forces, was killed in an explosion in Moscow. Russian authorities detained a 29-year-old Uzbek citizen, Akhmad Kurbanov, as a suspect in the general’s death.

According to TASS, Russian security forces contacted their Uzbek counterparts to obtain information about Kurbanov. The Uzbek authorities reportedly responded immediately and provided detailed information about him.

While the investigation into the assassination is ongoing, concerns persist that the incident may lead to heightened scrutiny and pressure on Uzbek migrants living in Russia. Lawmakers like Kalashnikov and Zatulin continue to stress that such incidents should not be used to justify xenophobia or hostility toward migrants from Central Asia.