DUSHANBE, April 29, 2013, Asia-Plus  -- At the end of last week, Tajik Ombudsman Zarif Alizoda met in St. Petersburg with representatives of Tajik public associations functioning there.

According to the Tajik migration service agency, issues related to problems facing Tajik labor migrants in the Russian Federation and ways to solve those problems were a major topic of the meeting.

Speaking at the meeting, Tajik Ombudsman noted that he was well aware of problems facing Tajik labor migrants in Russia.  He added that labor migrants were one of the most vulnerable categories in the Russian Federation.

Alizoda also said that he and the Human Rights Commissioner for St. Petersburg Alexander Shishlov signed a cooperation agreement on April 24.  This agreement is expected to improve the situation regarding the protection of rights and interests of Tajik labor migrants in Russia.