KYRGYZSTAN: Deportations of Kyrgyz migrant workers from Russia and poverty and unemployment in Kyrgyzstan result in crime rise in the Central Asian country

Record ID: 590092

  • Title: KYRGYZSTAN: Deportations of Kyrgyz migrant workers from Russia and poverty and unemployment in Kyrgyzstan result in crime rise in the Central Asian country
  • Date: 15th January 2014
  • Summary: BISHKEK, KYRGYZSTAN (JANUARY 15, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF BISHKEK TRAIN STATION PEOPLE ON PLATFORM BY TRAIN WINDOW OF COMPARTMENT PEOPLE ON PLATFORM SIGN ON TRAIN READING IN RUSSIAN 'TRAIN 9, BISHKEK-MOSCOW' CONDUCTOR VARIOUS OF TRAIN DEPARTING BISHKEK, KYRGYZSTAN (RECENT) (REUTERS) PEOPLE ON STREET FEET OF PEOPLE WALKING ON STREET POLICE PEOPLE ON SQUARE PEOPLE ON STRE
  • Embargoed: 30th January 2014 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Kyrgyzstan
  • Country: Kyrgyzstan
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement
  • Reuters ID: LVA2L8AKUJIOWYLW5R0TFQT2AHTD
  • Story Text: Deportations of Kyrgyz migrant workers from Russia have had a negative effect on the crime situation in Kyrgyzstan, the local police said.
    The mainly Muslim Central Asian nation of 5.5 million is one of the poorest among the 15 post-Soviet countries, its economic development is complicated by widespread corruption, ageing infrastructure and high unemployment.
    According to the World Bank 38 percent of Kyrgyzstan population lives below the poverty line.
    "It is not easy to find work, even if you are trying hard - you do not find one (job). People have no money, no job, plants and factories are closed down," said Bishkek resident Begayym Musayeva.
    Thousands of Kyrgyz men and women leave the country in search of work, most of them heading to Russia.
    According to Doskul Djumagulov, head of Kyrgyzstan Department of Migration, many people travelling to Russia have no information about immigration and labour regulations there, and some do not even speak Russian. This creates problems for both migrants and the host country.
    "The chaotic migration of our citizens leads to the situation when they do not know the laws of the country they enter. This damages the image of our country; this causes problems to these citizens. And it also leads to a certain political statements that our migrants are pushed out, abused. I don't think this is entirely true. We have to obey laws of another country as well as our own laws," Djumagulov told Reuters.
    Moscow - Russia's richest city - is the main destination for Kyrgyz migrants, who search for employment as construction workers, cleaners, nannies, shop assistants and similar positions.
    Many find jobs on the black market and do not obtain proper work permits and registration.
    According to the Russian Federal Migration service, in the first nine months of 2013 1,500 Kyrgyz labour migrants were deported from Russia for various legal violations. Twenty-eight thousand are on a "blacklist" and will be deported if they are caught breaking the law again.
    According to the head of police in the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek, Melis Turgunbayev, the deportation of Kyrgyz nationals from Russia have a negative impact on the crime situation in the city and in the entire country. He says tens of thousands of Kyrgyz men and women have been deported from Russia over the past few years.
    "According to our information about 30,000 of our compatriots have been deported (from Russia). You know that on the territory of the Russian Federation certain groups (of our citizens) committed crimes, petty crimes and of course, they (the Russian authorities) had to deal with them. And already back here, after the deportation, they contributed to the rise in street crimes like robbery, pick-pocketing," Turgunbayev told Reuters.
    According to the Russia Federal Migration service there are more than 570,000 Kyrgyz citizens currently in Russia.
    Bishkek resident Asylkan Isaliyeva blames the high unemployment rate in Kyrgyzstan for soaring crime and the migrants deported from Russia.
    "At present everyone who doesn't have passport, or violates an order, or does not have registration is being deported. Of course Russia wants to have fewer crimes. That's why people are deported. And these people once they get back make their contribution - increase the crime rate. The employment office cannot secure work for the young people. That's why they turn to such actions (crime)," said Isaliyeva.
    Chyngyzbek Uulu Sabyrbek, who has also worked in Russia but then lost his job and had to come back to Bishkek, says that most Kyrgyz who had to return home will not commit crime and will not take revenge on Russians living in Kyrgyzstan for their misfortunes while in Russia.
    "I think not all those who came back from Russia are criminals and want to take revenge. There are people who understand well they were in a foreign country, they know how to behave both abroad and at home and remain friendly towards Russians when they come back. There is a saying 'one should sing songs of the place he lives in'," Sabyrbek said.
    While Kyrgyzstan remains a poor country, the government expects GDP to rise 6.9 percent this year.
    The IMF sees economic growth at 6.5 percent in 2014, mainly owing to recovery in gold output.
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