The “Dustlik” Center has existed since 1996. Today, it actively helps citizens of Uzbekistan resolve legal issues. But why was it created 14 years ago?

It was my father’s idea — Ziyadulla Safarovich — and he was one of the founders. Our main goal at the beginning was to preserve our national culture. We would gather, speak our native language, and make sure our children didn’t forget our traditions and speech. Over time, of course, much changed. Labor migration increased across the post-Soviet space, and many problems arose that affected our compatriots. That’s when the center began helping citizens of Uzbekistan in difficult situations.

For example, today I met with an elderly woman whose own son is throwing her out of his home. She’s ethnically Korean, but lived in Uzbekistan. She sold her house there and came here. Technically, her situation isn’t directly related to our mission, but she had nowhere else to turn.

— I suppose that’s more of an exception. What are the more common problems?

Mostly, we help people with paperwork. We try to streamline the process: a person arrives, we legalize their status, help them get all their documents, ensure their labor contract is signed — and that’s it, they can work legally. All other relations are then governed by law and contract. There are also other issues — losing a passport, for example. Where do you go? We help resolve matters with the consulate, handle migration registration when there’s no host party. We’ve even set up our own arbitration court to settle disputes within the diaspora. Any citizen of Uzbekistan who feels they’ve been wronged can file a complaint. “Dustlik” has two lawyers, plus representatives from either local organizations or the regional government.

— Has this initiative helped avoid going to court in some cases?

Of course. Why go to court when you can sit down, talk, and resolve the issue? That’s exactly what we wanted to achieve. Sometimes people simply don’t understand each other — one speaks half-Russian, the other speaks Russian — and that’s where conflicts arise.

— One of the main complaints, not only about Uzbeks but all CIS citizens, is working without a permit. What’s the percentage of undocumented workers? Maybe it’s not that many overall?

Since July 1, 2010, Russia has had a law on work patents. It allows foreigners working for private individuals to pay a thousand rubles a month and live and work in the country legally. I think this has brought about 20% of migrants out of the shadows.

— And how many remain in the shadows?

As for citizens of Uzbekistan, in Krasnoyarsk the majority work legally. It’s good when someone can pay and, as they say, “make themselves legal.” It’s much worse when someone arrives, doesn’t know the laws, and has no idea where to go for help — especially since the deadlines for legalization are short. Those are the people we try to help.

— But obviously, without help from the authorities, you can’t solve all the issues. Have you managed to establish constructive cooperation?

The greatest help comes from the regional Federal Migration Service. They conduct large-scale outreach, and the head, Vladimir Nikolaevich Katrechko, personally works to get accurate information to us — which we then pass on to the community. We meet regularly, discuss pressing issues at the public council, and, most importantly, those issues actually get resolved.

— How does our region compare to others in terms of compliance with migration laws?

It’s hard to compare directly, but in the Krasnoyarsk Territory things are stable, calm, and handled professionally. What’s important is that Vladimir Katrechko genuinely cares about the problems of ordinary people.

For example, when two young Uzbek girls ended up in Krasnoyarsk without parents or documents, he did everything he could to help them leave the country and reunite with their father back home. Their mother is Russian. She left Uzbekistan taking the girls with her, became addicted to drugs here, and was soon imprisoned for distribution. The girls stayed in the “Rostok” orphanage. But they couldn’t remain in the orphanage because they have a father in Uzbekistan — who is disabled and unable to come here.

In the end, we gathered all the necessary documents and sent the girls back to Uzbekistan. We received great help from the Uzbek General Consulate, the diaspora, and the regional Federal Migration Service.

— In which fields are immigrants from Uzbekistan employed?

Construction and agriculture — those are the main ones.

— Basically, the sectors that local residents avoid because the work is tough and the pay is low?

Yes, that’s exactly it.

— In this regard, there are two opposing viewpoints. One is that without migrants we would face a huge shortage of labor; the other is that migrants are willing to work around the clock for low wages, creating strong competition for locals and making it harder for them to find jobs. Obviously, you lean toward one view, but could you explain your position?

As the head of a national-cultural center, I’m also a guest here, so I’m not really in a position to comment. Let the people of Krasnoyarsk answer that question. But if there wasn’t a shortage of workers, we wouldn’t be here. The vacancies would be filled, and nobody would come.

— Do you have statistics on how many people come to the center?

This year was tough because Ziyadulla Safarovich passed away, then my brother left, and I went to Uzbekistan for a time. Still, about two thousand people visited us in 2010. In 2008, when we were all working together, around five thousand came in just three months.

— Is such variation connected to your activity or migration trends?

Primarily to migration dynamics, of course. In 2008, there was no crisis yet, but later we ourselves advised our compatriots not to come because it was very difficult to find work.

— Judging by everything, the situation seems to have stabilized. By the way, that’s a good indicator of the economic climate.

Yes, we see there is demand and interest: people come to us repeatedly for help. Here’s a concrete example — a construction company plans to build 200 houses soon, but they don’t have enough workers.

— Do employers often come to you looking for workers?

Sometimes. Most potential employers know about the “Dustlik” consultation and adaptation center, which helps workers and employers find each other.

— Returning to the original idea behind creating the center — have you managed to preserve cultural traditions?

Nowadays, our responsibilities are divided. In Krasnoyarsk, there is a local public organization called “Dustlik” that primarily organizes all cultural events; we just provide support. The chairperson of that organization is Said Formonovich Kholdzhigitov. For many years, he’s been practically in charge of everything: he founded a national ensemble and holds celebrations every month. He’s older than me and holds more firmly to national customs — I went to a Russian school and graduated from Krasnoyarsk University.

Recently, we opened a national cultural and historical café. We aim to have Uzbek dishes prepared there not like in other places, but following truly authentic national recipes. Most Uzbek cuisine you find is modified, but we make real Samarkand plov, sticking exactly to the recipes. Of course, the staff are Uzbeks. We hired a restaurateur who managed a network of restaurants in Uzbekistan for many years. He knows how to welcome guests and what to serve them.

— And how is the “Dustlik” center funded?

We provide various services to both citizens and employers. The amounts are not very large, but enough to keep things running. The main thing is that we’ve taken the pressing issues off the agenda.

— What about your plans and prospects — what are they?

I hope the day will come when our help is no longer needed. Of course, that’s just a plan for now, but that’s exactly what we’re striving for.

Abdullo Salimov – Director of the “Dustlik” Consultation and Adaptation Center:

“I came to Krasnoyarsk a year ago purely for personal reasons — I just wanted a change of scenery, work, and climate. Here I met Zafar Ziyadullaevich (Safarov), who invited me to join the team. Now I help labor migrants from Uzbekistan adapt to new conditions, integrate into society, and follow the law. Fortunately, the Center’s resources allow us to provide housing, food, essential household items, and legal assistance with documents and work permits to those in difficult situations.

Most newcomers struggle with the Russian language. For them, we’ve organized free lessons at Vocational School No. 1, which also offers training in skilled trades. At the end of May this year, nearly 30 people completed a course in carpentry and construction and received certificates. We’re now exploring other specialties, depending on labor market demand.”

Shavkat Pulatov – Head of Security, Krasnoyarsk Regional Public Organization “Commonwealth of Uzbeks”:

“I’ve been in Krasnoyarsk for three years, and even before moving, I knew I would be helping migrants who’ve fallen victim to unscrupulous employers. A common scenario: someone finds a job through acquaintances, there’s no contract, they barely speak Russian — nodding along means they ‘agree’ to everything. Either they can’t perform the job well or they do it well but the employer simply lacks integrity. The outcome is the same: no pay and thrown out on the street.

Ninety-eight percent of such cases are in construction. The settlement of Taezhny in the Boguchansky District, with its many sawmills, is especially notorious. Recently, 20 Uzbek citizens were cheated there at once, nearly half of them undocumented. If our organization could oversee their journey from arrival to return, such sad endings wouldn’t happen.”

Bakhodir Usmanov – Deputy Chairman, Krasnoyarsk Regional Public Organization “Commonwealth of Uzbeks”:

“Zafar Safarov and I have been friends since childhood. At his persistent invitation, I came to Krasnoyarsk in 2008 and now serve as his deputy, handling matters while he’s away on business. I’m also overseeing the construction of a dormitory, which we urgently need.

Many Uzbek citizens arriving in Russia find themselves in difficult situations. Some come from our hometown or are relatives of our friends. We can’t leave them without help. Our decision to build a dormitory — where arrivals can live legally and in good conditions instead of registering in overcrowded ‘rubber’ apartments — has been supported by both the Federal Migration Service and the Krasnoyarsk city administration.

The key requirement is that only Uzbek citizens arriving through the Ministry of Labor of the Republic will live there. In addition to rooms, the dormitory will have a cafeteria, an assembly hall, a national cultural museum, and two vocational classrooms. These classrooms will house a small building materials factory, where migrants will work. Proceeds from sales will go toward maintaining and servicing the dormitory. Completion is scheduled…”

Farrukh Kholmatov — Master’s Student at Siberian Federal University, Youth Policy Coordinator for KROO and Overseer of Trade Houses:

“I’m an economist by education, having worked in banking and on the stock exchange, and overall I was quite satisfied with my life in Tashkent. My brother planned to apply for a master’s program and asked me to accompany him for company. In the end, I got in and he didn’t. I decided that if life gives you such a chance — to see the world and meet interesting people — it would be foolish not to take it. So, since September, I’ve been a master’s student at the Faculty of Information and Communication Technologies at SFU.

This year, through the Rossotrudnichestvo program, 223 people from Uzbekistan came to study in different regions of Russia. At the time I enrolled, I was the only representative of the republic at the university.

When I studied in Tashkent, I never lived in dorms, so I had no basis for comparison, but at SFU I was amazed at the student living conditions. Our two-person room has a fridge, a washing machine, and a good renovation. For academic achievements, students can receive scholarships of up to 40,000 rubles a month, which makes it possible to focus on research without worrying about money.

In the future, I plan to open my own business in Krasnoyarsk, become a true Siberian, and experience your famous winters (laughs).”

Sukhrob Zukhurov — Manager:

“I arrived here in May through the regional employment bureau for overseas workers in Bukhara Region. Since then, I’ve worked in construction and at a factory, learning the specifics of various trades. Now I share my experience with fellow countrymen — helping with paperwork, meeting them at the train station or airport, opening a file for each newcomer, providing phones, SIM cards, bedding, monitoring their stay in Russia, and escorting them back to Bukhara when their term ends.

The main concerns for labor migrants are living conditions and wages. Another issue is that not everyone can realistically assess their own abilities. Sometimes I offer 4–5 job specialties to choose from, and they can’t manage in any of them. For example, when I came to Krasnoyarsk, 22 people arrived with me. Three indicated in their forms that they could work as general laborers, and the rest as construction workers. In the end, those three stayed, while 19 were fired from construction jobs. Since they ended up on the street, the ‘Commonwealth of Uzbeks’ had to send them home at its own expense.

We called Uzbekistan and asked them not to send these people again until they’ve completed training and earned diplomas. I hope that the arrival of trained workers will help break the stereotype of low-skilled labor from Central Asia. We are not cheap labor. We are where no one else is.”

Natalya Boeva — Lawyer at the “Dustlik” Consultation and Adaptation Center:

“The most intense flow of citizens from Uzbekistan comes between February and May. In a single month, we receive 40–50 people. For everyone arriving through the Ministry of Labor of the republic, we first issue a three-month registration. If the person is satisfied with the working conditions, we then arrange a work patent or permit. Registration can then be extended for another year. Full legal support from start to finish ensures their complete compliance with Russian residency laws, giving labor migrants both confidence and a sense of security.”

Equality and brotherhood for all was one of the key tenets of the state ideology in the USSR. In the best country in the world, we were supposed to have built communism by 1980 and live without hardship, to live entirely differently. But over time, the great empire disappeared, and with it, the national idea.

We lost not only the Soviet Union — we lost cooperative ties with the former Soviet republics, which became independent states,” said Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor, and Director of the Krasnoyarsk branch of the Russian Academy of Education’s University, Nikolai Ivanovich Drozdov, at one of the round tables.

At the same round table, experts raised the issue of the role played in Siberia by public organizations, community leaders, and, of course, the “institutions” of the state — whether they be local governments, oversight bodies, migration services, trade bodies, or other state-funded entities.

Renowned educator and professor at the Astafyev Krasnoyarsk State Pedagogical University, Maria Ivanovna Shilova, has repeatedly highlighted in her work the invaluable experience of cooperation and coexistence among numerous ethnic groups.

In her book The Siberian Character as a Value, she advocates for universal recognition of the great cultural unity of Siberians. The term “Siberian character” itself can be used to illustrate the moral and spiritual formation of Siberians, people of different nationalities. Through the necessity of surviving in harsh natural conditions and through heroic labor, this character was shaped, incorporating the most valuable traits of the many peoples living beyond the Urals.

It was with those who have truly established themselves in Siberia and become leaders of national communities that the Mayor of Krasnoyarsk met. The heads of various communities (Tatar, Uzbek, Armenian, Polish, Ukrainian, and others) essentially act as communicators for their compatriots in other countries.

Zafar Safarov:

“This year has shown that with the arrival of the new governor of the Krasnoyarsk Territory and the new mayor of the city, national policy has changed dramatically. We’ve started being invited to meetings; we’re being consulted, asked questions we have to answer — which means we must work, think, and grow. In recent years, we hadn’t felt this kind of attention toward us.

The meeting, which brought together representatives from all the regional and city-based communities, was significant primarily because it addressed the need to create adaptation and consultation centers for working with immigrants, and it was decided to establish a consultative council under the mayor, made up of the heads of all public associations. And how else could it be?

We, the Uzbeks of Krasnoyarsk, created such an adaptation and consultation center — ‘Dustlik’ (‘Friendship’) — back in 2004. It has been developing and improving its technical and material base: a hotel is being built, classrooms are being opened for vocational training, Russian language courses, history lessons, and so on. The main goal of the center is to give newcomers a chance to settle in their new place.

How was our center born? With the increase in migration, we began to encounter compatriots in very difficult life situations. The consultation and adaptation center started helping people find a way out of such challenges. At a meeting of the ‘Commonwealth’ organization, we decided to work proactively — to protect fellow citizens from facing such obstacles. We conduct outreach, provide consultations.

Today, the ‘Commonwealth’ acts as a representative of the Republic of Uzbekistan’s Bureau of Employment. Citizens arriving through its referral to the Krasnoyarsk Territory are immediately placed in comfortable accommodation, quickly issued medical certificates and documents, and can calmly begin work with their employer.

Since 2013, we have been running short-term vocational courses at Krasnoyarsk Lyceum No. 1 for newcomers. At the end of May this year, the first 60 people received their diplomas. My position as an Uzbek is that all citizens of Uzbekistan should come here only through the Republic’s Ministry of Labor in order to avoid various bureaucratic problems.

Our experience shows that every organization should have such a center. Some people have relatives here, others don’t. Some can adapt to the social environment of a new city easily, for others it’s difficult. Incidentally, in the seven years our Center has operated, we have never had a single accident, and all our fellow citizens who came to Krasnoyarsk returned home.

This is important and relevant. We accompany everyone.

The meeting at the migration center with the mayor is a new practice. It concerns both immigrants and us, the heads of public organizations, and it gives a boost to the development of interethnic relations. Mayor Akbulatov’s proposals were well-received by the National Council (even if it’s still only nominal). There are already new initiatives, people have begun preparing letters and requests. Some are adopting our practices. In my memory, there have never been meetings at this level before.

Edkham Akbulatov suggested allocating the KrasTEK Palace of Culture for a ‘House of Friendship.’ The idea is excellent — in many cities of Russia, such centers have existed for years. There must be a socio-cultural center — a venue for communication, round tables, meetings. And it must be accessible to all. The main thing is that people won’t have to run around looking for venues to rent for events. The halls of the House could be used in turn, and immigrants of different nationalities would meet more often.

The building is beautiful, conveniently located — in an area traditionally inhabited by people of different nationalities, near a bus terminal and the intercity bus station.

It’s a good strategic move, a wonderful idea. In such a ‘House of Friendship,’ each community could create its own museum, for example. We could bring paintings, household items, clothing, costumes, so that any visitor could immerse themselves in the history and culture of a particular nationality. In the future, to broaden the horizons of immigrants and their children and acquaint them with the history, geography, and culture of Krasnoyarsk and the region, excursion routes could be created.

Of course, much would need to be rebuilt and renovated inside the building (it was previously a shopping center), but we’re not afraid of work.

This meeting was, in a sense, a lesson in tolerance from Mayor Edkham Akbulatov — the start of building a bridge of friendship between peoples. Thanks to such meetings, business cooperation improves. When you can communicate directly with the city or regional leadership, you truly understand what they want from us, and we can pass their wishes on to our community — and vice versa. The process works both ways.”

Drinking Means Going Home

Zafar Safarov believes that the most reliable solution to the problem of illegal migration is having workers come through the Ministry of Labor of Uzbekistan based on pre-approved applications. “The ‘Commonwealth of Uzbeks’ will preliminarily check living conditions and wages, help the employer submit an application to Uzbekistan, then meet workers at the airport, bring them to their housing, oversee paperwork and contract signing. At the end of the contract, we buy the worker a plane ticket and escort them back home,” Safarov explained.

He emphasized that everyone planning to come to Russia must clearly understand their purpose: “If someone plans to just wander the streets, no one here needs that. Uzbek citizens must understand that they are under close watch and can receive not only support and protection from the Uzbek government but also strict reprimands. It’s no secret that some Uzbeks, outside of our institutions—mahalla (local community self-government), family, relatives—start behaving improperly, mainly stealing and drinking. We talk to such people, and persistent offenders face deportation,” assured the chairman of the organization.

Additionally, the “Commonwealth of Uzbeks” has operated an arbitration court for four years. Its main task is to resolve disputes between employers and workers. Both parties can turn to it to settle conflicts out of court. This body helps migrant workers, who often cannot afford legal fees, resolve issues without paying court fees or lawyer expenses.

Problem Passengers

“Based on our airline’s experience flying from Uzbekistan to the Krasnoyarsk region, I can say that cases have increased when passengers coming here for work are sent back right at the airport,” said Khabibullo Magadiev, a representative of Uzbekistan Airways. “These are people who previously violated Russian laws and ended up on the blacklist. As a result, even with high demand, we have to keep several seats empty on every flight. No one knows in advance if problem passengers will fly from Tashkent or not. If the issue of illegal migrants from the CIS is resolved in Krasnoyarsk, it will undoubtedly have a positive effect on the airline’s operations. That’s why we are interested in a well-organized chain: Uzbekistan — migration center — ‘Commonwealth of Uzbeks’ — employer — home country.”

Abdullo Salimov, director of the “Dustlik” consultation and adaptation center, explained that cooperation with the “Commonwealth of Uzbeks” allows for advance requests to federal authorities to check if incoming migrants have violations that bar them from entering Russia. The entire journey of the citizen — from submitting the application to Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Labor and being sent for work, to arriving in Krasnoyarsk and returning home — is strictly monitored.

Training in Professions and Language Will Begin at Home

Anvar Khamdamov, director of the regional bureau for overseas employment in Bukhara region, added that Uzbek citizens planning to come to the region through the Republic’s Ministry of Labor must meet Russia’s minimum migrant requirements:

“We already have a center where people are taught Russian language, Russian history, and basics of Russian law. Additionally, they learn professions that are in demand in the labor market, tailored to the specific needs of employers. This helps avoid situations where someone arrives in a foreign country without a profession or language skills and has to figure out how to make money on their own. All these issues need to be addressed while still in Uzbekistan.”

The roundtable ended with a speech by Siberian Federal University graduate student Farrukh Kholmatov, who is studying in the master’s program at the Faculty of Information and Communication Technologies. He came to Krasnoyarsk as part of a partnership between Russia and Uzbekistan, where educational programs are a key area of cooperation. According to the intergovernmental agreement between the two countries, talented Uzbek youth are sent to leading Russian universities to study specialties in demand in their home country.

“I previously graduated from the Plekhanov Russian University of Economics and was admitted to the master’s program through a quota. This year, 223 people were sent to Russia, and I am currently the only representative from Uzbekistan in Krasnoyarsk. Based on the intergovernmental agreement, cooperation focuses on cultural exchange, development of integration processes, promotion of the Russian language, and ensuring that students receive education abroad. I am confident that if organizations like the ‘Commonwealth of Uzbeks’ and ‘Dustlik’ continue to monitor the situation and behavior of migrants, Russian attitudes toward us will improve,” concluded the graduate student.

In Moscow, an Uzbek national-cultural autonomy has been established, and one is being formed in Krasnoyarsk, uniting three regional public organizations: two national-cultural centers “Dustlik” (regional and city) and the Krasnoyarsk Regional Public Organization (KRPO) for the social and legal adaptation of Uzbek peoples, called the “Uzbek Community.” The KRPO president, Zafar Safarov, told Fergana why the autonomy is needed and about the pilot project supporting labor migrants that the “Uzbek Community” launched in Krasnoyarsk Krai.

Zafar Safarov: At the end of last year, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed amendments to the law on national-cultural autonomies (updated as of July 2, 2013). We hope this will create a proper, ongoing, and effective dialogue with authorized government bodies of the Russian Federation. I believe this will bring positive results soon.

— Was there no dialogue before?

There was. National-cultural centers mostly focused on preserving traditions and cultural values, educating youth, supporting language preservation, and similar issues. Our KRPO “Uzbek Community” was founded by these centers specifically to help labor migrants from Uzbekistan stay within the legal framework from the moment they arrive in Russia. Representing such a serious legal entity as a national-cultural autonomy adds weight to our negotiations with the administration.

— How exactly do you help migrants stay within the legal framework?

It’s simple. We “accompany” the person from the day they arrive until they leave. Anyone who becomes a member of the “Uzbek Community” can consider themselves protected from any legal or migration issues. We help with registration, work permits, and provide professional training if needed. The first 60-70 people are about to receive diplomas and start working in their specialties. Many will later return to Uzbekistan with new skills to contribute there as well.

— Diplomas from Russia?

We sign contracts with Russian educational institutions; the training is paid. We turn good people into skilled specialists.

— What kinds of professions?

Twenty-eight in-demand specialties: electricians, carpenters, gas and electric welders… We can train people in any specialties currently needed in Krasnoyarsk Krai across various industries.

— Do you also handle job placement?

Our organization represents the Employment Bureau for Uzbek citizens. To fulfill our charter goals, we opened the “Druzhba” consultation and adaptation center (CAC). From the first day, all Uzbek citizens arriving in Krasnoyarsk Krai through the Ministry of Labor of Uzbekistan’s bureau fall under CAC’s supervision. They register immediately, get migration registration, and are provided dormitory housing—we built a great dormitory for 500 people. Then they receive work permits under established regulations and start working. If, for some reason, the employer isn’t satisfied, we sign a contract with the worker and provide retraining or upskilling. Later, we find them another job where their skills are in demand.

— What percentage of migrants arrive through the Ministry of Labor?

The project is just starting and will be phased in gradually. The pilot in Krasnoyarsk covers up to 500 people. We’re currently preparing an agreement with the regional administration. If our initiative is supported, only workers sent by Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Labor will come to Krasnoyarsk, providing the region with a steady flow of qualified labor, transparency in arrivals and departures, and the ability to regulate these flows. Employers will need to submit requests within Russia, allowing the regional administration to set a financial minimum for job requests. Employers will agree on salary levels, housing, social protections, and take responsibility for medical insurance, monitored by a CAC representative.

It’s important to add that Uzbekistan places great emphasis on organized work departures, social protection for its citizens working abroad, housing, and fair wages. The Employment Agency under Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Labor works hard to ensure workers return home alive, healthy, and paid. Unfortunately, many employers are unwilling to provide housing, competitive pay, or safety.

— What about the new law limiting foreign citizens’ stay in Russia to three months within six months? What’s your view?

I personally support it. Since the law took effect, those outside the legal framework have left. As an Uzbek, I disliked seeing our citizens working illegally at any job just to survive. Those who come through us are employed properly; we know where they are and what they do. They have no issues with the three-month rule.

Now, after this law, there’s a labor shortage. It’s time to establish a legal, proper recruitment system for Uzbek citizens to fill vacancies.

— Do you find employers willing to hire migrants under these conditions?

Yes. Those willing to pay medical insurance and provide housing, though not immediately. Employers who want to work legally know their needs and agree to provide social conditions.

— Do you work with housing and utilities companies as employers?

No. We are fundamentally against Uzbeks working as janitors or cleaners. Even if someone cleans a yard and keeps it tidy, they can easily be abused or beaten.

Also, Russian citizens have hiring priority. Bringing in unemployed rural residents is a good initiative.

We are not cheap labor; we are skilled and valuable labor.

We built a comfortable dormitory, our own property. It has all necessary living conditions, a cafeteria, and 60-meter classrooms. Good housing is key. It’s not just some apartment where they won’t be registered and problems start on day one.

We offer employers housing services, transportation to and from work daily. On day one, workers get medical exams and insurance. We also contracted with a local hospital to provide doctors when needed and hospitalize if necessary.

— How much does this cost workers?

— It’s free for them. Employers and our organization cover all costs. For example, medical insurance costs about 5,000 rubles per year. If surgery is needed, the hospital bills us separately, but that’s rare.

— Is this pilot only in Krasnoyarsk Krai?

— Our “Uzbek Community” created a council including eight all-Russian Uzbek organizations from eight regions. They are opening similar consultation and adaptation centers like Krasnoyarsk’s. They take loans, buy land, and build dormitories. Housing is key.

Of course, many issues remain unresolved in labor migration. Nobody wants responsibility for migrants who arrive independently. Uzbekistan understands and is ready to officially send workers, but they must earn at least as much as locals, have housing, and medical insurance. Russian authorities say they handle employment quotas, but other issues migrants must solve themselves.

We fully understand that a structure is needed to manage these matters. A worker arrives, works, and leaves without worrying about organizational problems. In Krasnoyarsk Krai, we have streamlined this process.

As is well known, new laws regulating the legal status of foreign citizens in the Russian Federation came into effect in January 2007. These laws significantly simplified the registration of migrants and the process of obtaining work permits. An event of great importance is that a significant number of migrants were given the opportunity to legalize their status. In several regions of Russia, with the support of national communities, extensive work is being done to provide legal assistance to people from other countries, primarily from Central Asia.

It seems strange that despite the availability of effective tools to simplify the situation for foreign citizens, some national-cultural associations find themselves in difficult circumstances. We have already written about the problems faced by the Uzbek community in Tomsk.

Today, Ferghana.Ru offers its readers a positive example from the Uzbek diaspora in Krasnoyarsk. The national-cultural association “Dustlik” actively cooperates with local regulatory authorities, particularly the Federal Migration Service (FMS), working together to address issues related to bringing labor migrants into the legal framework. Some challenges exist only because the new laws have not yet been fully developed, and explanations and subordinate regulations are still lacking.

Using the example of the Krasnoyarsk community, we want to show how complex issues can find solutions, and we express hope that the Uzbek community in Tomsk will also be able to find ways to cooperate with regulatory authorities.

“DUSTLIK” WILL SUPPORT AND HELP

According to Zafar Safarov, Deputy Chairman of the NGO “Dustlik,” the association was founded in 1996. “At the time of its founding, our primary goals were to preserve our national values and Uzbek customs. We wanted to meet regularly and hold joint events. A lot has changed since then. There were years when all we did was send deceased Uzbeks back home,” recalls Zafar Safarov. “There were cases when employers deceived our guys, even killed them. That doesn’t happen anymore; throughout Russia, there is now a trend toward stabilization.”

Ferghana.Ru: — Nevertheless, in some regions of the country, particularly in Moscow, there has been an increase in murders motivated by ethnic hatred.

Z. Safarov: — Krasnoyarsk Krai is very tolerant in this regard. The local administration works effectively, and overall, things are calmer here. After all, this is Siberia — the people here are different. I believe we are treated quite well. Of course, we don’t take into account the occasional desire of rank-and-file police officers to extort money from migrants from Central Asia — that’s just the reality of the job.

Ferghana.Ru: — What does the current structure of “Dustlik” look like?

Z. Safarov: — The association has a chairman — that’s me, Ziyadullo Safarovich Safarov — and several deputies, each working in their own area. We also have our own national ensemble.

Ferghana.Ru: — Have you been able to fulfill the original goals of the association, such as preserving Uzbek culture, customs, and so forth?

Z. Safarov: — Yes, absolutely. Every year we celebrate Navruz and Kurban-Khait (holidays officially observed in Uzbekistan — editor’s note). Community members gather together, we share pilaf with city residents, and we talk about our national customs. After all, not everyone really knows what Uzbekistan is all about. At our celebrations, we showcase traditional clothing, and starting next year, we plan to begin performances by our music group. Usually, a large crowd attends the festivities.

Ferghana.Ru: — According to your estimates, how many people from Uzbekistan currently live in Krasnoyarsk Krai?

Z. Safarov: — We don’t have exact figures, but by our estimates, about ten thousand.

Ferghana.Ru: — What is happening with illegal migration, and what role does the community play in legalizing migrants?

Z. Safarov: — This year, about sixty percent of undocumented migrants have come out of the shadows. We conduct extensive educational work among migrants. Representatives of “Dustlik” visit places where migrants work in large numbers and explain that it’s much better to obtain work permits so they can work peacefully and receive their wages without problems. People listen and try to get the necessary documents. There was a time when we even paid the state fee for them on the condition they would repay us after their first paycheck.

When buses arrive in Krasnoyarsk carrying labor migrants from Uzbekistan, we find the group leader and suggest submitting applications for work permits for the newcomers. If he wants, we help fill out all the necessary paperwork. Otherwise, he can act on his own, and we simply direct him to where to submit the documents.

We provide legal education, explaining migrants’ rights and responsibilities under Russian law. Our community has a qualified lawyer who prepares documents and conducts outreach with migrants.

We created the Krasnoyarsk Migration Labor Exchange “Druzhba” and the “Dustlik” Consultation and Adaptation Center (CAC). The CAC is headed by Zhanna Tamozhikova, a qualified lawyer and former FMS employee in the Sosnovoborsk district. The CAC advises people on all issues related to document processing, obtaining temporary residence permits, and Russian citizenship. The Exchange was established in March 2007 and helps migrants find jobs. The organization acts as an official host and employs incoming labor migrants, overseeing employment contracts. Since many migrants from Uzbekistan arrive completely unprepared and unskilled, often from rural villages, we conduct preliminary training — for example, we have agreements with construction technical schools that train migrants in up to two months. After training, we make contracts with employers and can offer them trained workers who will become skilled professionals on the job.

Ferghana.Ru: — In which industries do Uzbeks working in Krasnoyarsk Krai find employment?

Z. Safarov: — Our compatriots work in many places — construction sites, forestry enterprises, and the service sector.

Ferghana.Ru: — What kind of wages do they earn, for example, on construction sites?

Z. Safarov: — Pay starts at about $300 USD for general laborers. On average, wages range from $600 to $800.

Ferghana.Ru: — Do you have any means of influencing employers who delay or withhold wages?

Z. Safarov: — If problems arise, employers usually prefer to settle the matter before it goes to court. The community has excellent relations with the FMS, which we can always notify about such violations. The Labor Migrants’ Union “Sodruzhestvo” was created to help resolve difficult issues.

Ferghana.Ru: — Where do migrants from Uzbekistan live? Does the community help them find housing, or do they arrange it themselves?

Z. Safarov: — Mostly, they rent rooms, trying to live near large markets. Construction workers often live in trailers directly on construction sites. Migrants who come with their families rent apartments. Their children attend nearby schools. For example, in the Leninsky district, where many migrants live, many work at the market, and there are national cuisine establishments and so on. Now housing and utilities companies have begun hiring migrants, mostly women who work as cleaners in apartment buildings. Large stores, hypermarkets, and supermarkets mostly employ people from Central Asia because Russians don’t want these jobs due to the low wages — about $200–$250.

Ferghana.Ru: — How does the local population treat migrants from Uzbekistan?

Z. Safarov: — Ordinary people are friendly. But losers and slackers blame migrants for their own troubles.

Ferghana.Ru: — Do you think labor migrants should learn Russian?

Z. Safarov: — I insist that migrants learn Russian. I even recommend they speak Russian among themselves. After a year working in Russia, any Uzbek can communicate quite well in Russian.

Ferghana.Ru: — How does the Uzbek community interact with official regional administration bodies?

Z. Safarov: — Credit is due to the regional leadership and the Federal Migration Service for starting the legalization of labor migrants back in 2003. We saw a political will to improve the situation for incoming workers. The new FMS leadership is also ready to work constructively. The deputy governor of the region for economics, Edkham Shukrievich Akbulatov, has done a lot to get the legalization process moving again.

Ferghana.Ru: — So there is an understanding at the regional leadership level that migrants are needed?

Z. Safarov: — Yes, overall we have mutual understanding. It’s always possible to hold meetings in any format and discuss outstanding issues.

Ferghana.Ru: — What has changed since the new laws came into effect in January 2007? I imagine the number of consultations and the volume of work have increased significantly?

Z. Safarov: — Certainly. However, I want to point out that to this day, there are no clarifications or implementing regulations regarding the new laws. Because of this, we sometimes face difficulties due to contradictory interpretations of the legislation. For example, the law states that a legal entity (such as a national cultural association) can act as a host party for incoming migrants. At the same time, we are not obliged to provide them housing, but we do have information about their place of residence. Nevertheless, the migration control department within the Federal Migration Service (FMS) disagrees with this, and we regularly face inspections, sometimes with attempts to initiate a range of administrative violations against us. Because of this, we believe it’s extremely important that the law be interpreted unambiguously. This would help us avoid conflicts with regulatory authorities going forward.

UZBEKS GAVE A WAY OUT OF THE DEADLOCK

It is interesting to note that the “Dustlik” Consultation and Adaptation Center provides legal assistance not only to Uzbek citizens. Let’s hear the story of T., who for five years was unable to obtain Russian citizenship despite having every legal basis to do so.

“I was born in Crimea to a family of a Soviet officer; later my father was transferred to serve in Kamchatka, and our family moved there as well. When I was in tenth grade, my family returned to Crimea. To apply to university, I obtained a Ukrainian passport. Back in 1995, it seemed unimportant what citizenship you had. We lived with old Soviet ideas of open borders and brotherhood among republics.

After studying at university for three years, I decided to return to my family in Kamchatka because unrest related to the Tatar question began in Crimea. So I lived in Kamchatka in a restricted area—the submarine base zone—with a passport from another country. Everything was fine until Russian laws became stricter.

In 2000, I moved to Krasnoyarsk where my father had friends. I expected to get Russian citizenship, but it turned out to be extremely difficult. They demanded a migration card from me, even though when I returned from Ukraine, such laws didn’t exist yet. But no one wanted to listen, and I was told to leave the country and come back with a new migration card. This would have meant losing my advantage of having lived continuously in the country for five years. The situation seemed hopeless. Everyone in my family are Russian citizens, and my father is in the military. It seemed I had every right to expedited citizenship, but no one at the passport office wanted to hear about it. Officially, I wasn’t refused, but I was sent in endless circles gathering certificates and documents. In 2003, it took me six months just to collect these documents, and in the process, I risked losing my job and livelihood.

My struggles to obtain citizenship lasted from 2002. After four years, I turned to Dustlik. There, after hearing my story, they suggested choosing the general citizenship application process, without benefits. They provided legal assistance and directed me exactly where to get the necessary documents. Each step resulted in new documents and certificates, and every one counted. As a result, I obtained a temporary residence permit, and in six months, I expect to receive Russian citizenship.”

Editor’s note: Unfortunately, T.’s case is far from unique. Among many such stories, the most striking involve military personnel who could not obtain citizenship for years, only to have their issues resolved by a presidential hotline intervention.

Is it really impossible to get citizenship with every legal right to it? T.’s story clearly shows it’s extremely difficult. Without help from qualified lawyers, ordinary people often simply cannot navigate the bureaucratic “circles of hell.”

EXPERT OPINION

Usually, specialized departments exist within the administrations of Russian regions to work with national cultural associations. In Krasnoyarsk Krai, this is the Department for Nationalities and Religions within the Public Relations Administration of the Regional Government. We present the expert opinion of Rashit Rafikov, head of the department, on migration issues.

Ferghana.Ru: — Rashit Gizzatovich, what national associations are represented in Krasnoyarsk Krai?

R. Rafikov: — The total number of officially registered national cultural associations in Krasnoyarsk Krai reaches seventy, but more than sixty are actively working.

Ferghana.Ru: — How do you assess the changes in migration processes that have occurred this year?

R. Rafikov: — It’s worth noting that previously, according to various expert estimates, there were six to eight undocumented migrants for every one legal migrant. Currently, the situation has changed drastically: there is now only one undocumented migrant for every two legal ones.

Undoubtedly, the large scale of labor migration brings certain challenges that need to be addressed. In particular, there is dissatisfaction among the local population, who feel that the influx of foreign workers drives down wages and displaces locals from some jobs. A clear example is in certain construction trades like painters and plasterers.

However, it’s no secret that Krasnoyarsk Krai will increasingly require labor resources going forward, as mining enterprises develop and new deposits are exploited, alongside infrastructure growth. Therefore, the region will continue to attract people from other areas—active individuals capable of working and earning. Naturally, some local residents may resent migrants who earn significantly more than they do.

Ferghana.Ru: — How can this problem be resolved?

R. Rafikov: — It’s necessary to raise the level of tolerance and involve regional media and institutions at various levels. National diasporas have a responsibility for their compatriots and should engage in educational work with migrants, explaining the cultural and social norms of the host country. This will reduce unnecessary risks and help prevent xenophobic incidents, both religious and ethnic.

Typically, migrants prefer settling in large cities, primarily Krasnoyarsk. This creates challenges around cultural adaptation and Russian language acquisition for both adults and especially migrant children. We have dedicated several conferences and roundtables to this topic. Since this work has been ongoing for over three years, methods for teaching Russian as a foreign language have been developed. For children, teaching approaches are tailored to three levels of language proficiency: none, weak, and intermediate.

The issue of limited Russian proficiency among school-age children is particularly acute in districts adjacent to major Krasnoyarsk markets, where classes often have a high percentage of migrant children. Besides additional Russian language lessons, many schools conduct cultural awareness activities and events promoting tolerance. The more you know about another culture and traditions, the fewer reasons there are for suspicion. These efforts include class sessions, various festivals, and national days celebrating different republics. Importantly, parents also take part in this work.

Ferghana.Ru: — You mentioned cooperation with the media and other measures aimed at fostering tolerance in society. Could you elaborate on that?

R. Rafikov: — For the fourth consecutive year, we have held contests for journalists on the best coverage of migration and interethnic relations. We also encourage students and graduate students to research these topics. Popular science literature on history and communities is published in the region. National holidays are celebrated, and scientific conferences and methodological seminars are organized.

Unfortunately, Islamophobia is spreading widely across the country, including Krasnoyarsk Krai. Therefore, we focus on working with the younger generation: our mufti regularly leads educational excursions for schoolchildren. It has become a good tradition for the regional authorities and the governor to personally congratulate Muslims on religious holidays with kind words. Given that there is only one mosque here, which accommodates only a small fraction of the faithful, major events and celebrations are held in rented halls or outdoors.

Fergana.ru: Are there any projects aimed at helping migrants adapt in the Krasnoyarsk region?

R. Rafikov: There are currently no state-run adaptation centers, but their creation is on the agenda. For now, this kind of work is carried out only through national cultural associations. As I mentioned before, we consider it important to develop educational programs. People who come to Russia to work for a long time or settle permanently should understand the laws and customs of the host country and should also have the opportunity to provide a good education for their children.

After the new migration law came into effect, the Federal Migration Service (FMS) bore the brunt of the work. Since January 2007, FMS offices were flooded with migrants seeking work permits. It’s important to note that although Krasnoyarsk region is huge, work permits are issued only in Krasnoyarsk city, at a single location. Because the staff was limited, there were initially long lines, with people waiting outside the FMS building for days. However, the situation has gradually improved. Several consultation points have opened in Krasnoyarsk to help migrants prepare the required documents, so now migrants only need to visit the central office to submit documents and collect their plastic work permit cards.

Krasnoyarsk Region Needs More Workers

“If before migrants could only register in residential places and only through FMS authorities, since January the registration procedure has changed from a permit-based system to a notification-based system,” explains Lyudmila Grigoryeva, Deputy Head of the FMS in Krasnoyarsk region. “Together with the host party, migrants can send notifications to FMS through post offices. Krasnoyarsk region has 78 FMS branches and 809 post offices. Thanks to this, queues have practically disappeared, and the three-day deadline for registration has become more realistic. Another important change is the possibility to register foreign nationals at a legal address.”

Fergana.ru: So the host party, as a legal entity, can register foreign nationals regardless of their number? There are no limits?

L. Grigoryeva: The law doesn’t specify any restrictions as such.

Fergana.ru: So, a community as a legal entity can register its compatriots at its address?

L. Grigoryeva: They must live where they are registered, or the community must know their whereabouts. Otherwise, the community isn’t fulfilling its duties as a host party and must bear legal responsibility.

Fergana.ru: Where do migrants from Central Asia usually prefer to register?

L. Grigoryeva: For FMS, the best way is registration by the employer. The migrant is registered at the employer’s legal address and usually lives in a dormitory, so the employer knows exactly where they are. If a community registers its members first, then they get employed and the employer becomes the host party after the labor contract is signed. In that case, the community should deregister them, and the employer should register them. According to Article 115 of the Federal Law, a foreign national can be registered for 90 days, and the stay can be extended if there is a labor or civil contract.

Fergana.ru: What challenges do migrants face when they are outside the legal framework?

L. Grigoryeva: There have been cases of organized recruitment where certain people bring entire groups of migrants and get paid for it. Naturally, it’s not in their interest to legalize these migrants because with a work permit, the Russian labor code applies to foreign nationals too, offering legal protections including those guaranteed by the Russian Constitution. There are also cases of human trafficking, especially among migrants brought in through such “organized recruitment.”

Fergana.ru: How has the situation with migrant registration changed quantitatively this year?

L. Grigoryeva: Over the first ten months of this year, 79,000 people registered, which is a 59% increase compared to the same period last year. 38,000 work permits were issued, a 256% increase. Of those, 31,000 permits went to citizens of nearby countries: 195 permits to Kazakh citizens, 7,900 to Kyrgyz citizens, 11,000 to Tajik citizens, and 5,500 to Uzbek citizens.

However, we do not expect further growth in labor migration due to the introduction of quotas. We don’t yet know the quota for Krasnoyarsk region for 2008, but I expect it to be around 50,000 work permits.

The difference between the number of people registered and the number of work permits issued represents those who couldn’t get officially employed. The labor market is limited, and most foreigners head to Krasnoyarsk because it has developed industry and construction sectors. It’s unlikely employers fail to notify authorities about hiring foreign nationals, as fines can be very high — up to 800,000 rubles.

Fergana.ru: How does the FMS cooperate with national communities, especially the Uzbek community?

L. Grigoryeva: We work well with the diasporas, no problems there. Often, diaspora leaders are also employers. This is understandable since they are business representatives living here long-term and have Russian citizenship. If we need to locate migrants for some reason, we also reach out to the communities: they can find their compatriots faster and more effectively than official agencies. We also cooperate with the regional administration’s Department for Nationalities and Religions, organizing meetings, seminars, and roundtables on migration issues.

Fergana.ru: What are the general trends in migration processes in our country?

L. Grigoryeva: The main goal is to legalize the stay of foreign nationals in Russia and make it easier for them to regularize their status without bureaucratic delays. We’re ready to accept those who come legally to work and earn. Of course, this affects the labor market since foreign nationals often work for less pay than Russian citizens. Still, Krasnoyarsk region currently has a significant need for additional workers.

In Conclusion

So, the harsh Siberian region of Krasnoyarsk is a hotspot of intense migration processes. Overall, with regional specifics considered, migration trends across the country are similar. This year, a large number of labor migrants have come out of the shadows into the legal field. Despite some rough edges and insufficiently developed legislation, it’s helping move forward the legalization of foreign nationals.

Readers of Fergana.ru have seen perspectives from both Uzbek community leaders and government experts. They largely agree — the region needs workers, and efforts must continue to attract labor migrants, provide them with proper documents, legal support, and increase tolerance in society. Overall, this cooperation between communities and government agencies can be called an effective partnership.

Connections between Turkic and Slavic peoples have existed since ancient times. Before the revolution, Uzbeks mostly came to Russia as part of trade caravans, embassies, various missions, etc. During the 16th and 17th centuries, trade and diplomatic relations between Bukhara, Khiva, Kokand, and the Russian state intensified. The formation of the Uzbek diaspora in Russia can be roughly dated to the 16th–17th centuries.

In 1558, Ivan IV’s ambassador arrived in Central Asia, visiting Khwarezm and Bukhara. In 1559, return embassies from Bukhara and Balkh were sent to Moscow. These visits aimed to resolve trade issues. Bukhara’s Khan Abdulla requested Ivan IV to allow his merchants free access to Kazan, Astrakhan, and other cities. In the fall of 1559, two Bukhara ambassadors arrived in Moscow. The Bukhara government obtained permission for its merchants to trade duty-free in Astrakhan. Ivan IV’s “merchant charters” allowed Asian merchants to trade in other Russian cities as well. In 1563, 1566, and 1583, ambassadors from Bukhara and Samarkand came to Russia to regulate trade relations. In 1585, Bukhara’s Khan Abdulla sent his ambassador Muhammad-Ali to Tsar Feodor Ivanovich with goods and gifts. The Russian government was interested in Central Asia as a base for silk monopoly trade with Western Europe. In 1589, Russia allowed Bukhara’s ambassador Dostum and Izyur’s ambassador Kadish to buy goods duty-free on their route. In 1598, Khivan prince Muhammad-Kul stayed in Moscow and closely interacted with Boris Godunov and other Russian elites.

In the 17th century alone, many Central Asian embassies visited Russia; Bukhara sent 13 alone. In 1622, Khivan prince Afgan negotiated with Tsar Mikhail Feodorovich (founder of the Romanov dynasty). Urgench prince Abulaziz fled Russia with 2,000 troops due to conflict with his father, settling near Astrakhan in the village of Adzhi. Ethnographers note the physical appearance and speech of Adzhi residents resemble those of Urgench Uzbeks.

In spring 1634, “Bukhara merchant” Hadji Ata-kuli petitioned Tsar Mikhail Feodorovich for permission to sell duty-free in Yaroslavl goods brought on behalf of Bukhara’s ruler Imam-Gul. The goods listed illuminate Russo-Central Asian trade ties: “2626 zenden of red cloth, 2000 zenden of colored silk, 735 anser silk pieces, 38 kinds of cloth, 325 patterned fabrics, 664 white Balha calico, 30 Azam zenden, 200 Yam calico, 70 printed textiles.”

In 1644, the Russian government instructed Siberian commanders to honor Uzbeks and actively encourage their settlement in Siberia. By the 17th century, Uzbek diaspora members served in Russian state roles, mainly diplomatic but also customs, translation, and more. Saidkul from Tobolsk was part of Russian embassies to China in 1653, 1658, and 1668–1672 and received awards. Muhammad-Yusuf Kasymov (from Astrakhan) was sent to India and Afghanistan in 1675. In 1688, Yakub-Mulla translated official documents into Russian in Astrakhan, originally written in Arabic, Persian, and various Turkic languages. Yadgar Alimov (Astrakhan) often accompanied Russian caravans to Central Asia. The first Russian embassy to Beijing was led by Mulla Erka, fluent in Chinese, Mongolian, and many Turkic languages.

Between 1685–1687, four large Bukhara caravans visited Irkutsk. In October 1685, 15 Bukhara merchant families arrived with a caravan of 130 camels. The second caravan in 1686 was larger: 11 merchant families with 172 camels brought textiles worth 2,000 rubles (Irkutsk estimate). The following caravans were similarly large.

Several Uzbek embassies visited Peter I: in 1700 and 1703, Khivan delegations from Khans Shah-Niyaz and Arab-Muhammad, in 1713 a special mission by Khivan subject Khoja-Nafas, and in 1720 an embassy from the new Khiva Khan Avaz-Muhammad.

Orientalist G.I. Spassky mentioned the 1779 visit of Bukhara’s envoy Ir-Nazar Maksutov to St. Petersburg, thanks to whom Catherine II funded a madrasa in Bukhara (“one was built at the expense of Empress Catherine II, thanks to the envoy Ir-Nazar Maksutov in 1779”). By the late 18th century, over 20,000 Uzbeks lived in Siberia, the Urals, Astrakhan, Orenburg, and surrounding areas, often called “Bukharans” or “Tashkentis” based on their origin.

In 1804, Bukhara Emir Haydar-Khan’s embassy led by Abdulkarim Bukhari visited Russia. In 1806, a Russian journal noted that the Uzbek diaspora in Russia “stick together and maintain their national customs… They display considerable natural intelligence, honesty, politeness; their speech is moderate and pleasant, partly due to the good state of their schools.”

Officer F. Nazarov of the Separate Siberian Corps mentioned the Kokand embassy of Umar-Khan, which visited Russia in 1812. Around the same time, Khivan caravan leader Ataniyaz Niyaz-Muhamedov carried out a special mission for Alexander I, trying to establish contacts between Russia and Khiva. In 1815 and 1819, Bukhara Emir Haydar-Khan’s envoy Azimjan Muminjanov, while in Russia, expressed the Emir’s wish to send a Russian embassy to Bukhara to negotiate a trade agreement.

A number of embassies were sent to St. Petersburg by the Khans of Kokand in 1822, 1828, 1831, 1841, and other years. In 1831, Kokand Khan Muhammad Ali-Khan sent an embassy to St. Petersburg requesting Emperor Nicholas I to send mining engineers and artillery officers to Kokand. In 1841, a Kokand embassy led by Muhammad Khalil Sahib-zade visited Russia. A. Wambery mentioned Khivan Shukrulla-bay, who frequently traveled to Russia on official business.

In 1857, 1869, and 1874, Bukhara’s Emir Nasrullah Khan’s embassies were accompanied by the Bukhara educator Ahmad Donish, who wrote “Journey from Bukhara to Petersburg.”

Notable figures of the 19th-century Moscow Uzbek community included Kokand merchant Ibragimjan Akhundzhanov, Bukharan Abdul-Karimbay Safarov, the Khoshalov family, mullahs Salih Dusmametov and Mirgulyam Nakshbandi, among others.

Between the 1870s and 1890s, Bukharan Prince Sayid Mir-Mansur (1863–1918) lived in Russia, residing in St. Petersburg. He studied at the Page Corps and the Nikolaev Cavalry School, became an officer, and served in the Russian cavalry until 1899, after which he retired and returned to Bukhara. Mir-Mansur married Georgian princess Sofia Tsereteli; they had several children. Their eldest son, Nikolai Tsereteli (b. 1890), was a leading actor at the Moscow Chamber Theatre in the 1920s. Mir-Mansur’s second son was a decorated Russian army officer who died fighting Bolsheviks in 1918.

Russian orientalist M.A. Terentyev began scientific study of the Uzbek language, publishing a grammar in 1875. He frequently communicated with Uzbeks living or traveling in Russia.

The heir to the Bukhara throne, future Emir Sayid Mir-Alim Khan, studied at the Nikolaev Cadet Corps (1893–1896). As emir, he held the rank of lieutenant general in the Russian army and was awarded several imperial honors.

Other notable Uzbek cultural figures who lived, studied, or frequently visited Russia include educator Ajzi (who traveled extensively in Russia, including St. Petersburg and Moscow in 1901–1903), Kokand engineer Abidjan Mahmudov (the first Uzbek mining engineer, graduated from St. Petersburg Mining Institute), and Khivan official Sheikh Nazar Esaulbashi Muhammad Murad-ogly.

In 1907–1908, a delegation from the Khiva Khan, led by First Vizier Islam-Khodja, visited Russia. The delegation included Khudaybergen Devanov, a pioneer of Uzbek cinema. Early 20th-century Turkestani deputies to the Russian State Duma included Abduvakhit-kari Kariyev. Khiva’s Khan Muhammad-Rahim Khan II funded a Baltic Fleet gunboat named Khivinetz, and Bukhara’s Emir Sayid Abd-al-Ahad financed a similar boat named Bukharetz.

A source of pride for the Uzbek community in Russia is the Saint Petersburg Cathedral Mosque, built in the early 20th century with funds from the Emir of Bukhara (laid down during Sayid Abd-al-Ahad’s reign, completed under his son Sayid Mir-Alim Khan).

From 1911 to 1915, future academician and first president of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan, Tashmukhamed Kary-Niyazov, studied natural sciences at the Circle of Self-Education publishing house in St. Petersburg. His descendants now live in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

In 1916, many Uzbeks were mobilized under the June 25 decree into labor battalions and sent to Russian fronts in World War I, with some participating actively in the 1917 events.

As noted in the media: "In Soviet times, there were many Uzbeks among the residents of Moscow, Leningrad, and other large cities." In 1921, the Bukhara House of Enlightenment was opened in Moscow, which offered various educational courses (language courses, etc.), including an Uzbek theatrical studio.

In the 1920s–1930s, several prominent Uzbeks studied in Leningrad: one of Uzbekistan’s first professional literary scholars Abdulla Alavi (Institute of Oriental Languages, 1924–1927), linguist Ulug Tursunov (same institute, 1927–1930), prominent Uzbek writer Kamil Yashen (Forest Management Institute, 1924–1927), and Z.Sh. Rajabov, the future first director of the Institute of History and Archaeology of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan, who completed postgraduate studies at the Leningrad branch of the Institute of Oriental Studies in 1936. In 1935, under the leadership of Tashkenbay Egamberdiev, the first national circus attraction of Uzbek tightrope walkers was created in Leningrad, operating until 1941.

A significant milestone was the war years of 1941–1945, which increased the Uzbek diaspora in Russia. Uzbeks, as part of national divisions and brigades (19th, 99th, 100th, 101st, 102nd, 103rd Uzbek Cavalry Divisions; 89th–97th Uzbek Separate Rifle Brigades, etc.) and other units, defended Moscow, Leningrad, Stalingrad, and liberated Orel, Belgorod, Voronezh, Kursk, Rostov, and other Russian cities. During and after the war, many Uzbek veterans settled in Russia—in places where they had fought, recovered from wounds, etc.

In the post-war period, Uzbeks continued their education in Russia. In 1950, Uzbek composer I.I. Akbarov graduated from the Leningrad Conservatory. The future academician of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan M.Yu. Yuldashev worked at the Leningrad branch of the Institute of Oriental Studies. In 1953, future People’s Artist of Uzbekistan R.A. Akhmedov graduated from the I.E. Repin Institute. In 1965, sculptors A. Baymatov and R. Charyev also graduated from this institute. Later (in the 1970s–80s), famous Uzbek artists Bahodir Jalalov, Sabir Rakhmetov, Akmal Ikramdzhanov, Muhammad Nuritdinov, and others graduated from the Academy of Arts in Saint Petersburg. Art historian Kh.N. Abul-Kasymova (1958) and Islamic scholar M.K. Aripov (1967) graduated from Leningrad State University. Since 1960, the well-known film director I.A. Khamraev has lived in Russia—professor at the directing department of the Saint Petersburg University of Cinema and Television, head of the Uzbek diaspora cultural sector in Saint Petersburg. Since 1964, Samarkand native Kh.I. Abdusamatov, now Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences and head of the Space Research Laboratory at the Pulkovo Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences, has lived in Russia.

The Uzbek diaspora in the Soviet period was represented not only by intelligentsia but also by workers and peasants. Demographers note: "Labor migration in Uzbekistan has always existed both internally and to other Soviet republics. The latter occurred in organized forms (rotational labor shifts in the Non-Black Earth region, Kazakhstan, construction of new Soviet sites by public calls, organized recruitment of workers, etc.) and informally (mostly fruit and vegetable trade)." The socio-demographic situation in Central Russia in the 1960s–70s forced, according to economist A.L. Andreev, "the import of Uzbek and Tajik peasants into the Russian Non-Black Earth region to fill the labor shortage there."

A representative of the Uzbek diaspora in the Sverdlovsk region, Yu. Islamov, was posthumously awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union in 1988 for heroism in battles with Afghan Mujahideen.

The Uzbek diaspora in modern Russia lives in almost all regions of the Russian Federation, but the largest numbers are found in Moscow and the Moscow region, Saint Petersburg and Leningrad region, and many places in the Volga region, the Urals, and Siberia. Organizationally, the diaspora includes such societies and national-cultural centers as the Tamara Khanum Center for Russian-Uzbek Cultural Cooperation (Moscow), the Society of Compatriots of Uzbekistan "Umid" ("Hope") and the "Turan" community (Saint Petersburg), the National Uzbek Cultural Center "Alisher Navoi" (Samara), the regional public organizations "Zeravshan - Golden Valley" and the Uzbek community "Farishta" (Voronezh), the Uzbek Cultural National Center "Fergana Valley" (Novosibirsk), the Uzbek national-cultural autonomy of Krasnoyarsk city, the Krasnoyarsk regional public organizations Uzbek national-cultural center "Dustlik" ("Friendship") and "Uzbek Diaspora", and the Uzbek community of the Yaroslavl branch of the Assembly of the Peoples of Russia.

Prominent representatives of the Uzbek diaspora in Russia include the cosmonaut and Hero of Russia Salidjan Sharipov, major businessmen Alisher Usmanov and Iskander Makhmudov, actor Farhad Makhmudov, directors Jakhongir Faiziev, Ali Khamraev, Eldor Urazbayev, Elyer Ishmukhamedov, Yusuf Razykov, singer Stakhan Rakhimov, writer Vadim Muratkhanov, diplomat Pulat Abdullaev, singer Aziza Mukhamedova, philosophy professor Talib Saidbaev, history professor Mutal Khalmukhamedov, RAEN academician Adkham Yunusov, socio-political figures Nuraly Latypov and Rafik Nishanov, leaders of regional Uzbek diasporas Anvar Khusainov (Moscow), Alidjan Khaydarov (Saint Petersburg), Israil Nurmatov (Samara), Saidurad Kholzhigitov, Zafar Safarov, and Nodir Juraev (Krasnoyarsk), Mukhumadamin Abdulazizov (Novosibirsk), and others. In Saint Petersburg alone live film director, professor, and honored cultural worker of the Russian Federation Iskander Khamraev, retired Captain 1st Rank and former submarine commander B.A. Narmamadov, professor-urologist of the Military Medical Academy B.I. Nabidjanov, honored master of sports in figure skating and tennis coach I. Ibragimov, State Prize laureate Professor A.R. Rakhimov, municipal deputy R.R. Kurbanov, president of the Maritime Facade LLC Sh.Sh. Kary-Niyazov (grandson of academician T.N. Kary-Niyazov), rector of PEIPK FGO DPO A.I. Tadzhibaev, and others.

Uzbek writer Shamsad Abdullaev often publishes in Russia. The Russian language and Russian poetry became for him an ideal neutral space to merge the Uzbek mentality and Central Asian chronotope with Western cultural and poetic experience. This unique experiment resonated with the search for uncensored Russian poetry, and in the early 1990s, Abdullaev became a regular author for "Mitiny Zhurnal." In 1992, his book "Interval" launched the journal’s book series, and in 1993 he received the Andrei Bely Prize—the highest recognition in Russian uncensored literature.

In August 2005, businessman Kh.P. Abdullaev organized the newspaper "Uzbegim" in Moscow, published in Uzbek and Russian, popular not only in the capital but also among Uzbek communities across Russia—Saint Petersburg, the Volga region, the Urals, Siberia, etc. In Saint Petersburg alone, 3,000 copies circulate. On February 25, 2007, a charity festival "The Sun Rises in the East" was held in Saint Petersburg for children and teenagers with disabilities. The festival was organized by the Russian Ethnographic Museum and the Saint Petersburg Uzbek diaspora. The festival included museum tours ("Parade of Peoples," "Welcome Navruz"), film screenings about Central Asia, Uzbek national music performances, and traditional Uzbek cuisine tastings. On September 7, 2008, a festive concert "Uzbek Culture Day," dedicated to Uzbekistan’s Independence Day, took place in Saint Petersburg, showcasing vibrant performances by Uzbek artists and their national instruments, immersing attendees in Uzbek culture. An interesting phenomenon of Uzbek culture in Saint Petersburg is the ethno-folk group "Obmorok i Mama," led by doyra player and vocalist Ikhtiyar Kadyrov. Members include A. Barakov (accordion), V. Pogosyan (keyboards), Kuzybay (tar), and Mansur Saidov (tar).

Every March, the Uzbek diaspora in Tyumen celebrates Navruz with a grand festival lasting two weeks. On the first day, Uzbeks parade in national costumes. A contest "Uzun Sach" is held where beauties compete by braid length (minimum 40 cm). Visitors can enjoy Uzbek dishes like plov, sumalak, samsa with herbs, and more.

The Samara regional public organization "National Uzbek Cultural Center ‘Alisher Navoi’" was established in 2006, chaired by Nurmatov Israiljon Ismatjanovich. Its goals include fostering national and spiritual unity, preserving and developing the Uzbek language, culture, traditions, and customs, and protecting the legal rights and interests of Uzbek citizens. The organization holds events related to Uzbek history and culture such as Navruz and Uzbekistan Independence Day (September 1). It participates in interethnic regional and city events organized by the city administration and Samara regional government ("Wreath of Friendship," "City Day," etc.). Active members are Uzbek migrants. The organization assists migrants with employment and legal protection.

On December 10, 2010, the Uzbek Cultural National Center "Fergana Valley" was presented in Novosibirsk. Guests included the Uzbek Consul General A. Kayumov, local officials, and representatives of Jewish, Uyghur, Belarusian, and other diasporas. The center’s mission is to introduce Novosibirsk residents to ancient culture, beautiful dances, customs, and traditions, and to preserve them so that "every Uzbek knows their roots." The center has many plans and already boasts successes: Uzbek dancer Laylo won a Turkic beauty contest held in Novosibirsk in November 2010 as part of the "Siberian Chaykhana" festival.

In Ivanovo region, Muslim communities and diasporas (including Uzbek) obtained permission from local authorities to build a Muslim Cultural Center. For years, an interethnic children’s summer camp has operated with diaspora support. The Yaroslavl regional branch of the Assembly of the Peoples of Russia (YarO ANR) has existed since 2000 and unites representatives of 17 national diasporas including Uzbek, Azerbaijani, Dagestani, Tajik, Tatar, Chechen-Ingush, etc. It plays an important role in Yaroslavl’s public life and promotes tolerance and multicultural values. In Podolsk, about 30,000 ethnic Muslims live, including at least 10,000 Uzbeks. The local spiritual-cultural organization "Rakhman" has operated since 1999.

By the initiative of cultural, scientific, and public figures from both countries, the "Forum of Culture and Art of Uzbekistan" Foundation was presented in Moscow in March 2004, aimed at promoting the rich cultural and historical heritage of the Uzbek people.

Seventy-seven subjects of the Russian Federation actively cooperate with Uzbekistan. The most active are regions with Uzbek diasporas. Over 40 Uzbek trade houses are open in Russian regions, and plans exist to open 15 more. Over 1,000 Uzbek students received scholarships for free education in Russian universities from 1999 to 2009 under Uzbek-Russian educational cooperation; in the 2007-2008 academic year alone, 180 scholarships were granted.

Several bilateral agreements specify the status of ethnic minorities. For example, Article 7 of the "Treaty on the Foundations of Interstate Relations, Friendship and Cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Uzbekistan" (May 30, 1992) states: "The High Contracting Parties guarantee the right of persons belonging to national minorities, individually or together with others, to freely express, preserve, and develop their ethnic, cultural, linguistic or religious identity and create conditions to encourage this identity, and do not allow any attempts of forced assimilation." This provision fully corresponds to Article 1 of the "Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities" (December 18, 1992), which states: "States protect the existence and identity of national or ethnic, cultural, religious, and linguistic minorities within their respective territories and encourage conditions for the development of that identity."

Finally, it is important to mention the so-called "new diaspora." Mainly, migrants from Uzbekistan work in construction, agriculture, factories, trade, auto service, public utilities, and household services. For example, so many Uzbeks work as public transport drivers that traffic rules have been published and distributed in Uzbek. The total number of Uzbek labor migrants in Russia fluctuates between 500,000 and 1 million. Uzbek communities try to support these people as much as possible.

Published in the collection "Historical and Cultural Ties between Russia and Uzbekistan: Materials of the International Scientific Readings in Memory of Alisher Navoi (Astrakhan, February 26, 2013)" / ed. A.V. Syzranov. Astrakhan: Color Publishing, 2013. – 159 pages.

R.R. Nazarov