A recent report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) unveils a stark reality for Central Asian migrants in Russia, spotlighting a surge in hate speech, violence, and systematic harassment in the wake of the Crocus City Hall attack in March 2024. This report highlights an array of recent legislative measures that allow increased expulsion of migrants without judicial review, which many experts fear could foster corruption.
Among the measures detailed is a new law that will deny foreign nationals’ children access to schools unless they pass language proficiency tests, beginning next month. Additionally, at least 12 regions have imposed sweeping restrictions on migrant employment, with HRW criticising these bans as excessively harsh and inconsistent with international discrimination standards.
Alongside legislative changes, HRW observed a troubling rise in the administrative harassment of Central Asian migrants, marked by hateful rhetoric, ethnic profiling, and abusive treatment during detentions. Disturbingly, statistics indicate 232 cases of severe injury linked to hate-driven attacks against migrants in the first ten months of 2024, reflecting a growing atmosphere of violence.
The report also draws attention to the escalating activities of nationalist groups across Russia that conduct anti-migrant operations in collaboration with law enforcement. Groups like Severnyy Chelovek and Russkaya Obshchina have amplified their xenophobic campaigns, contributing to an increasingly hostile environment for migrants.
Moreover, the plight of these migrants has worsened amid Russia’s aggressive military actions in Ukraine. While the Russian government has begun offering citizenship to migrants in military service, it is simultaneously annulling citizenship for those who do not comply with military registration. HRW highlights alarming instances of migrants being misled into forced military recruitment and labour exploitation, particularly in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine.
As a signatory to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, Russia is urged to reaffirm its commitments and ratify international accords designed to protect the rights of migrant workers and their families. This move is deemed vital to combat the rampant discrimination facing Central Asian migrants today.
The Human Rights Watch report reveals alarming discrimination against Central Asian migrants in Russia, highlighting legislative changes that permit expulsions without judicial oversight, and restrictions on migrant employment. There is an increase in hate speech and violence, with 232 hate-motivated attacks recorded in 2024. Nationalist groups are collaborating with authorities, worsening the situation amid ongoing military actions in Ukraine. HRW calls for Russia to ratify international conventions to safeguard migrant rights.
In conclusion, the HRW report lays bare a worrying trend for Central Asian migrants in Russia, characterised by escalating violence, systemic discrimination, and alarming legislative changes that breach international legal standards. With nationalist sentiments on the rise and a formalised crackdown on migrants, it is crucial for Russia to recommit to protecting migrant rights. The call to action for Russia to ratify global treaties further underscores the urgency of addressing these pressing humanitarian concerns.
Original Source: www.jurist.org
