Those who refuse to live in Uzbekistan are fighting for Ukraine – Alexander Bastrykin

Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia, Alexander Bastrykin, has claimed that over 20,000 individuals who “do not want to live in Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan” are now fighting on the front lines as part of Ukraine's military operation. He made this statement during an international legal forum held in St. Petersburg.

During his speech, Bastrykin raised a number of concerns regarding migration and migrant-related crime in Russia.

According to official data, from January to March 2025, the number of crimes committed by migrants in Russia increased by 15% compared to the same period in the previous year. This follows a decrease in migrant-related crime of nearly 1% in 2024.

Bastrykin also reported that in 2024, the Investigative Committee initiated 918 criminal cases against officials involved in violations related to migration.

He warned of growing radicalization within migrant communities and expressed concern that many migrants are unwilling to integrate into Russian society. In response, he proposed mandatory biometric registration for all migrants.

In addition, Bastrykin spoke out against allowing the family members of migrants to reside in Russia. He emphasized that employers should bear full responsibility for providing migrants with housing, medical insurance, and healthcare services.

He stressed the importance of closely monitoring migration processes and stated that the Investigative Committee would continue its efforts to tighten migration policies.

For context, it should be recalled that the “I Want to Live” project—launched with the support of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense and the Main Intelligence Directorate—had previously published the names of 1,110 Uzbek citizens who signed contracts to serve in the Russian Armed Forces during the war in Ukraine. According to the project, at least 109 of those listed have died. The youngest was under 21, while the oldest was 62.