DUSHANBE, May 11, Asia-Plus -- A working group consisting of representatives of Russia and Kyrgyzstan, including Russian MP Yevgeny Royzman, known for his “Tajikphobia”, will arrive in Tajikistan in the near future to study the manpower market here.   

The Tajik Interior Ministry migration service chief, Major-General Ramazon Rahimov said in an interview with Asia-Plus that the working group was set up at a roundtable meeting that was held in Yekaterinburg, Russia, in late April. 

According to him, representatives from Russia, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan took part at that meeting, which discussed issues related to problems of labor migration.  “During the meeting it was decided that the working group will annually visit each of this countries to study the manpower market and problems related to labor migrations,” the general said.  

            “Attitude of Royzman to Tajik labor migrants has not changed,” said Rahimov, “As previous, he continues harshly criticizing Tajik labor migrants and the law enforcement agencies.”  “Thus, he claims the great number of Tajik labor migrants working in Russia’s Sverdlovskaya region are involved in drug trafficking in either event.  According to him, against a background of increasing rate of mortality caused by spreading of narcotics among the population in the region and increase in crime it poses serious threat to national security.” 

Rahimov added that officers from the law enforcement agencies of the Sverdlovskaya region had supported Royzman at the meeting, noting that 92 Tajik nationals were arrested on suspicion of having been involved in drug trafficking in the region last year and 600 kilograms of drugs were confiscated from them.  

“In response to this I noted that there ought not to treat all alike and claim that all labor migrants are potential drug dealers,” said Rahimov, “Drug trafficking is the problem of not only Tajikistan but other countries as well.  There ought to bear in mind that our country is on the front-line against flow of narcotics from Afghanistan and with support of international community it takes efforts to prevent it.  No gram of heroin has been produced in our territory so far and no heroin-producing facility has been revealed in Tajikistan.” 

As far as activities of the Tajik law enforcement agencies and special services are concerned, Rahimov noted that they sized more than 4.5 tons of drugs, including more than 3 tons of heroin, last year.   

According to the Tajik migration service, some 100,000 Tajik labor migrants are currently working in the Sverdlovskaya region of Russia.