Stricter laws and increased suspicion towards foreigners, particularly Central Asian workers, have led to challenges for thousands of guest workers trying to enter Russia. Despite efforts by politicians to address societal sentiments, migrants are not easily deterred. Those who are not immediately processed at passport control in Moscow airports are placed in a penalty box, where they undergo additional checks by border officials affiliated with the FSB secret service. This process can take minutes or even hours, with or without questioning, and is referred to as an “additional check.”
Central Asian migrants wait at all hours of the day or night at Russian airports and land borders with Kazakhstan, predominantly Uzbeks and Kyrgyz. The situation is troubling for all parties involved as Russia relies on migrant labor for various industries facing worker shortages. However, Russian society’s suspicion towards foreigners has fueled a demand for stricter migration policies, including biometric registration and loyalty declarations upon entry.
Following a terrorist attack on Crocus City Hall in Moscow involving Tajik bombers, travelers from Tajikistan are viewed with increased suspicion. Attacks on Central Asian migrants in Russia have risen, with police raids on mosques, cafes, and workplaces of guest workers. The Tajik Foreign Ministry has criticized Russia for holding over a thousand Tajiks at Moscow airports in unsanitary conditions without adequate food while Russia claims that the additional checks are for security reasons and not based on nationality.
The rise of online betting as a popular form of entertainment presents both opportunities for entertainment and risks for potential harm within the gambling industry. Central Asian states’ reluctance to restrict their citizens’ access to work in Russia poses economic challenges for both sides while tension may arise from recent migration issues. Despite the government’s proposals for tighter migration legislation and enforcement measures aimed at addressing public concerns about foreign workers