Nearly 200 Uzbek Citizens Sought Asylum in Russia in 2025

According to official Uzbek statistics, 1.86 million citizens left the country for employment abroad between January and September 2025

In 2025, a total of 191 Uzbek citizens applied for asylum in Russia, underscoring evolving migration dynamics in the region and increased pressure on labor and humanitarian migration systems across Central Asia. The figures were reported by Gazeta.ru, citing data from Russia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs.

According to the data, 8,820 foreign nationals sought temporary asylum in Russia last year. Ukrainians accounted for the largest group, with 3,332 applicants, followed by 3,196 Syrians. Other significant groups included 313 Palestinians, 281 Afghans, and 191 Uzbeks. Additional applicants came from countries such as Germany, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Israel, and Armenia, placing Central Asian states firmly within Russia’s broader migration framework.

The total number of asylum applications marked an increase compared to 2024, when Russian authorities registered 6,879 requests.

Despite ongoing political and economic turbulence, officials said the overall structure of migration remained largely stable.

Regional developments also influenced migration trends. In early January, Ukraine’s State Border Guard Service reported that around 1,400 Ukrainian citizens attempted to cross borders illegally in 2025, including via Belarus. Most attempts occurred along European Union borders. Meanwhile, the EU recorded a 20% drop in asylum applications, especially among Syrians, indicating that some migratory pressure may be shifting eastward.

For Uzbekistan, the asylum figures come amid broader labor migration trends. According to official Uzbek statistics, 1.86 million citizens left the country for employment abroad between January and September 2025, a 1.38-fold increase year-on-year. Of these, an estimated 1.3 million were working in Russia, reaffirming its role as the main destination for Uzbek labor migrants.

Migration policy has also featured in recent diplomatic discussions. According to RIA Novosti, Russian Ambassador to Uzbekistan Aleksey YERKHOV informed the Uzbek Foreign Ministry of Russia’s updated migration policy concept, approved in October 2025. During a meeting with Deputy Foreign Minister Olimjon ABDULLAEV, both sides addressed the need to improve labor migration mechanisms and ensure the protection of Uzbek citizens’ rights during inspections and employment procedures.

Russia’s 2026-2030 migration policy concept states that external political and economic pressures have not significantly altered migration patterns. The policy projects continued growth in labor migration, driven by sustained demand for foreign workers.

At the same time, Moscow is introducing new mechanisms to attract skilled foreign nationals. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced that, beginning in April 2026, Russian embassies and consulates will issue one-year, multiple-entry business visas to qualified individuals deemed beneficial to the Russian Federation. Eligible applicants will include professionals with achievements in science, technology, manufacturing, sports, the creative industries, education, or other high-demand sectors, as outlined in a presidential decree promoting high-quality migration.

By The: The Times Of Central Asia.

Image: iStock.

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