Workers are in order: Moscow and Dushanbe are rebuilding approaches to labor migration

Russia and Tajikistan have signed a number of documents on labor migration: now everyone who wants to work in the Russian Federation will be able to undergo mandatory medical examinations in Dushanbe, and they will also develop a mechanism for the organized recruitment of labor. Among other things, the Interior Ministries of the Russian Federation and Tajikistan will open their representative offices in Dushanbe and Moscow. These decisions were agreed upon during Vladimir Putin's state visit to Tajikistan on October 9. On the same day, the Russian president held talks with Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliyev: it was the first detailed meeting after the crash of the AZAL plane. Putin presented his colleague with the latest details of the investigation and named the reasons for the incident.

Economic prospects of Moscow and Dushanbe

Vladimir Putin's state visit to Dushanbe is in full swing: October 9 is the main day of the Russian-Tajik talks. Preparations for the official welcoming ceremony between Vladimir Putin and Emomali Rahmon were in full swing on the square in front of the entrance to the Palace of Nations: the guard of honor was rehearsing a march, and the orchestra was playing solemn music. To these sounds, the President of Russia arrived on the Aurus at the square, where he was already met by the head of the republic. The leaders greeted each other with a firm handshake, and after singing the anthems, they proceeded to introduce the delegations that would work with each other throughout the day.

The Russian side was represented by more than 20 people. These are the social block — the ministers of health, education, transport, and the economic block — the heads of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Economic Development. It also stands out that this time the delegation included a military unit — the ministers of defense, Internal Affairs and the head of the Rosgvardiya. However, the leaders managed to discuss some of the pressing issues face-to-face on the eve of Vladimir Putin's arrival in Dushanbe.

"I want to thank you for last night, when we were able to talk calmly over a cup of tea in a friendly atmosphere about everything that concerns us both in the region and about the most interesting and promising areas of our bilateral cooperation," Vladimir Putin said during the talks.

The leaders had time to talk both one-on-one and in an expanded format with the participation of delegations. Traditionally, the heads of state summed up the main results during a press statement at the end of the conversation. Much of it concerned the economic outlook. Russia is Tajikistan's leading trading partner, its share in the republic's foreign trade last year was 22.6%, followed by China, with 21.8%. Moreover, the share of national currencies in commercial transactions by the end of 2024 exceeded 97%. Vladimir Putin recalled that the trade turnover in 2024 increased by 7.1% to $1.5 billion, and by another 17.3% since the beginning of the year. Moreover, Russia and Tajikistan plan to increase the volume of mutual trade by 2.5 times by 2030, the Russian president said.

This can be done by creating a technology park in Tajikistan, which Russia is very interested in, Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin told Izvestia. Such a technology park will make it possible to produce products that are in demand in Russia. We are currently working on a number of private projects: our investors produce cotton in Tajikistan and supply textile products to Russia.

What Putin and Rahmon agreed on regarding migration

More than 300 companies from the Russian Federation are currently operating in the republic, and Russian investments have amounted to more than $500 million. According to the Kremlin, 1.2 million Tajik citizens work in Russia, which is 16% of all foreigners working here. Their remittances to their homeland in 2024 amounted to $1.8 billion, which is 17% of the republic's GDP, a serious help for the Tajik economy, the Russian president noted.

"We strive to provide Tajikistan's citizens with decent working conditions and social protection, and Russian relevant agencies are in close contact with their Tajik counterparts on all relevant migration policy issues," Vladimir Putin said.

Russia and Tajikistan have signed a series of documents in the field of labor migration. Among them is the medical examination of citizens of the republic for work in the Russian Federation. Now, according to the document, they will be able to undergo it in Dushanbe, and the procedure itself will operate in accordance with the procedure approved by the Ministry of Health.

In addition, they signed a protocol on amendments to the intergovernmental agreement of 2019 on the organized recruitment of Tajik citizens for temporary employment in the territory of the Russian Federation. The document improves the mechanism of organized labor recruitment based on the mutual interests and needs of the two states. The parties also agreed to open representative offices of the Ministry of Internal Affairs — the Russian one in Dushanbe and the Tajik one in Moscow.

"Migration cooperation between the parties is progressing in a constructive manner, we have confirmed our common readiness to further deepen partnership relations in all areas and practical implementation of the agreements reached," Emomali Rahmon said after the talks.

Now the migration sphere in the relations between the two states will develop more predictably and less conflict-free, experts believe. Many procedures related to economic migration have been specified, as well as the rights and obligations of Tajik citizens during their work in Russia, Stanislav Tkachenko, Professor at St. Petersburg State University, noted in an interview with Izvestia. According to him, Dushanbe will be able to maintain an extremely advantageous situation with migrants. In the longer term, due to large-scale economic migration to Russia, Tajikistan is preparing professional staff who can return to their homeland or find a place in foreign (including Russian) companies, he concluded.

Russia and Tajikistan are facing the issue of transferring cooperation between the countries to a strategic level, Daria Saprynskaya, a researcher at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, tells Izvestia. An important issue is the revision of all bilateral agreements to improve the effectiveness of their implementation. For Moscow and Dushanbe, the most priority areas are energy, the implementation of transport corridors and digital projects. The Russian Federation, in particular, actively helps the republic in the development of hydropower. For example, the Sangtudinskaya HPP, built with Moscow's participation, produces 12% of the electricity consumed in the republic. Russian companies are ready to continue to modernize electricity generation capacities in Tajikistan, the President stressed.

Meanwhile, the countries intend to intensify cooperation in the military sphere, including using the potential of the 201st Russian base, the largest military facility of the Russian Federation outside its borders.

"The 201st Russian military base stationed in the republic is the guarantor of security in Tajikistan and in the entire region,— Vladimir Putin stressed.

The first talks between Putin and Aliyev after the AZAL plane crash

On the same day, the Russian leader held talks with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. The AZAL passenger plane crash in December was in the spotlight. Vladimir Putin again apologized for the tragedy that occurred in the skies of Russia and expressed his sincere condolences to the families of the victims. The investigation into this case is already coming to an end, and the head of state presented to his interlocutor several reasons for this tragedy.

— The first is that there was a Ukrainian drone in the sky. We were flying three such drones at once, which crossed the border of the Russian Federation at night on the day of the tragedy. The second reason is the technical failures of the Russian air defense system itself. The two missiles that were fired did not directly hit the plane — if that had happened, it would have collapsed on the spot — but exploded — maybe it was self—destruct - a few meters away, about 10 meters away," he said.

Most likely, the aircraft was damaged by debris, which is why the pilot decided that he had crashed into a flock of birds. He handed this over to the dispatchers, he was offered to land in Makhachkala, but he decided to return to his home airport, and then to Kazakhstan: all this is recorded by "black boxes," Vladimir Putin stressed. Russia will do everything necessary regarding compensation in connection with the plane crash. A legal assessment of the actions of all officials will also be given.

— I have outlined to you what I was introduced to just before our meeting, yesterday and the day before yesterday. To be honest, I even called Moscow last night and asked if there were any additional details. I've told you almost everything I know," the Russian leader clarified.

Ilham Aliyev thanked for the detailed information. He recalled that on that tragic day he was on his way to a meeting in St. Petersburg and called the Russian leader directly from the plane.

— I would like to thank you for personally keeping this situation under control. And as we have repeatedly exchanged opinions with you, as well as members of our teams are constantly in contact, you personally control the course of the investigation, and we had no doubt that it would objectively sort everything out. Therefore, I would like to express my gratitude once again that you considered it necessary to highlight this issue at our meeting," said Ilham Aliyev.

In addition, the parties also touched upon the successful development of trade and economic ties. This year, the turnover has grown by more than 16%.