About a month ago, the Russian authorities published a “list of controlled persons,” which includes over 120,000 Tajik citizens suspected of legal violations.  The Tajik government posted this list on the official website of the Ministry of Labor, Migration and Employment of the Population (MoLMEP) and launched a hotline to assist the population.  However, Asia-Plus has received dozens of complaints from citizens, particularly labor migrants in Russia, regarding the hotline's effectiveness.

According to them, most of the hotline numbers provided by the relevant bodies are either turned off, not working, or no one answers the calls.  Asia-Plus conducted its own experiment by calling the listed numbers and found that the complaints were true.

In Russia, contacts are silent

Out of the 11 numbers of MoLMEP representatives in Russia published in October, only three were active (we called on November 19 and 21).

For instance, among the seven representatives of the Ministry in Russia’s central region (Moscow oblast), only Subhon Amirkhonzoda (+7 (966) 031-22-22) and Dovar Kholov (+7 (936) 174-19-92) answered our calls.  The numbers of the other three representatives in the central region—Dilrabo Azimi (+7 (495) 967-98-44), Bakhtiyor Zarifov (+7 (495) 967-98-44), and Komron Doustov (+7 (988) 676-00-00)—although active, were unanswered.

The numbers for two other representatives in the region—Nazar Valizoda (+7 (967) 271-02-02) and Romish Kholnazarov (+7 (929) 540-88-88)—were unavailable. Only Zafar Qurbonalizoda (+7 (926) 311-52-53) from the Volga region responded to our call.

The numbers of representatives from the Siberian region—Bahrom Yusufalizoda (+7 (929) 388-54-11) and the Northwestern region—Furozon Johnmuhammadov (+7 (977) 963-25-69), were active but did not answer the calls.

The number of Khurshed Mirzozoda (+7 (996) 120-77-77), a representative of the Ministry in the southern regions, was blocked.

Inside the country, numbers are active

Internal migration numbers are more active. For example, three numbers from the MoLMEP Migration Department (250-32-40; 250-32-09; 250-32-42) for citizens within the country were active, and our calls were answered.

The Migration Service's three numbers (225-05-95; 225-05-89; 225-05-77) were also answered. One of the numbers was answered by the head of the service, and the other two by employees.

The agency explained that the numbers are only available during business hours—from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.—and asked citizens to call within this timeframe. "We receive dozens of calls daily, so the line is often busy. If the line is busy when you call, please try again later," they added.

Of the four numbers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (227-86-31; 221-98-12; 93 876-26-26; 93-9220684), two fixed-line phone numbers were unanswered.  The ministry has two active mobile numbers, but when we inquired about checking names on the "list of controlled persons" from the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs, we were advised to check the information on the MoLMEP’s website and only call them with further questions.

The embassy does not respond

Calls to the unified legal consultation hotline for Tajikistan citizens (+7 (965) 320-55-02), launched earlier this month by the Public Council at the Tajik Embassy in Moscow, were also unanswered.

Thus, the check showed that out of the 22 provided contact numbers, 11 were either inactive or did not answer.  This means that 50% of the numbers provided for inquiries are useless. Meanwhile, thousands of Tajik citizens in labor migration, under unprecedented pressure, are in need of assistance.

It is perhaps this indifference from the responsible parties that led Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon to criticize the weak performance of Tajik ministries in Russia during a meeting with law enforcement agencies, saying that "the working group is currently performing their duties."

Moreover, the Tajik Embassy in Moscow does not cooperate with journalists and does not provide them with information when needed.