Dozens of Uzbeks and Tajiks detained in Moscow dormitory raid without explanation

Dozens of Uzbek and Tajik migrants are being held for hours without explanation in the Danilovsky district of Moscow, Russia. According to a fellow citizen who contacted Kun.uz, on the morning of 4 August, a dormitory housing nearly 100 migrants was searched. Soldiers from special units and the Federal Service of the National Guard reportedly detained around 50 migrants, who have not been released since. According to Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the ministry is currently in contact with the country’s diplomatic missions in Russia.

Photos and videos submitted to Kun.uz show dozens of migrants standing behind a metal fence. Reportedly, at around 4:00 a.m. on 4 August, a group of military personnel stormed the dormitory for migrants located on Paveletskaya Street in Moscow’s Danilovsky district and carried out searches and inspections. During the raid, the migrants’ personal information and documents were checked. Over 100 migrants were questioned, and more than half of them were taken away by the authorities.

“At about 4:00 in the morning they suddenly broke in. It was a dormitory where Uzbeks and Tajiks lived. Most of the residents work in construction. More than half of them were taken away with the use of force. Several hours have passed, and they still haven’t been released. I’ve been watching from a distance with my own eyes,” said a fellow Uzbek citizen, who asked to remain anonymous.

In an effort to clarify the situation, Kun.uz has sent an inquiry to Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs for communication with the country’s diplomatic representatives in Russia. According to MFA spokesperson Ahror Burkhanov, the ministry is aware of the situation and is maintaining contact with the Uzbek embassy in Moscow and relevant authorities.

For reference, on 11 April this year, a major raid was carried out at the “Bodrost” bathhouse in Moscow, where most of the patrons were Kyrgyz citizens. They were forced to crawl on the floor during the raid. Following the incident, Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs submitted a note of protest to the Russian ambassador.

Earlier, on 28 January, a raid was also conducted by Russian security forces at the Central Market in Kazan, during which force was used against Uzbek citizens.