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American University of Central Asia - 69ɫ - Migrant Stories

Migrant Stories

I am Yarhan. For Russians Yasha. I am an ordinary person and my life is simple, so what to tell. With my brigade we are building houses, do repair works.


Every year hundreds of Kyrgyz people leave the country searching for better life. These are the stories of compatriots scattered around the world. They talk about the difficulties of moving, different mentality, peculiarities of life of other culture and how to succeed in a foreign country.


Dad will come tomorrow” is a photo reportage by documentary photographer Elyor Nematov, who has been working for several years on his project “I am a foreigner. Labor migration from Central Asia.” The reportage tells the stories of the families of migrants from Kyrgyzstan: the children, wives, mothers and brothers of those who went to work in Russia. The title of the photo reportage is taken from a sentence the children, waiting for their fathers, hear every day from the adults. Meduza presents Elyor Nematov’s project.


Employers underestimate the talent pool of specialists and managers from Central Asia.


Earlier this year, I was approached by a businessman from Leipzig Dmitry M. with the questions on various topics.I asked him to write an article about hisstory of migration.Read in Russian



Kadyr Saidkasym isa labor migrant, hewrote sketches wherethe situationsconnected to migration processes described by different characters. The author ofscetches titledthose small and educativeconfessions as:"Story of one detention".


In recentyears, among the labor migrants and in the country thereare talks about the deportation of our citizens from the Russian Federation. So it touched me, an ordinary citizen of the Kyrgyz Republic, a resident of one of the cities of Chui oblast.


The aim of our project isto tell about migration as a phenomena, as tendency or the issue. Thedestinies of comeand go people are in the focus. Each migrant can tell his own history, which can be similar and defferent from the stories of million other people.


Maratbek Eshankulov, citizen of Kyrgyzstan whowasalmost for 2 years and 10 months banned to leave Moscow, at last returned home, to Kyzyl-Kia town. The lawyer of Eshankulov Filip Shipov who advocated the interests ofMaratduring the timeofinvestigation and court proceedings informed about Marat's return to Vechernyi Bishkek.


Tell us how you got the idea to establish a School of Languages ​​migrants? - I recently had the "Muzeon", about a couple of months ago, and the idea was born in January and February. Our promise is clear: we want, above all, to show that the culture of these countries are significant. It is not necessary to treat the Tajiks as wipers - they are carriers of the ancient culture.


Central Asian labour migrants in Russia find that Islam offers a refuge that helps ease the difficulties of life in a foreign and sometimes hostile society. While some migrants find comfort and support from religion, experts warn that a minority are vulnerable to recruitment by fundamentalist groups.


In May 2014, seven Uzbek citizens showed up at the "Fund assistance to migrant workers from Central Asia", who were owed payment for work on the building site. Migrants were employed informally and the employer promised to pay each 30 thousand rubles a month. But in an envelope.


There are three ways Central Asian guest workers travel to Russia, the magnet that draws millions of Kyrgyz, Tajiks and Uzbeks each year. The most expensive is by plane. Train is less pricey. Bus is cheaper still, but it’s also the slowest and most prone to scams from beginning to end.


Foreign citizens who do not leave Russia in 30 days from the date of the expiration of their temporary residence, are automatically entered in the list and will not be able to enter the territory of the Russian Federation for the next three years, since on the border the passport of a foreign citizen passport is checked for the absence of him/her in the "black list "and only then allowed to enter the country.


I have lived in Russia for the past few years. I often wonder why it is not easy for migrants from Tajikistan in Russia. Then I add some reasons to the puzzle and a picture emerges that fits the definition of "say a word about a poor Tajik."



A 25-year-old Kyrgyz is being judged for allegedly double-crossing the border of Kyrgyzstan and Russia on someone else's passport. However, this passport is also in the name of Maratbek Eshankulov, the picture just does not reflect the way he looks today.


I remember that I once worked for a magazine that was glossy and very popular in Central Asia. The editors asked me to write about successful migrants. You will not believe me, but back then I could not imagine where to find a successful guest worker. It is one thing to write about migration in general, and to see in Russia a native of Central Asia almost every step of the way, and quite another to see a successful and business-like migrant.


Of Russia's 12 million immigrants, about 2-3 million of them live in Moscow, according to the U.N. It's a high proportion for a city of 11 million people.

In 2013 tensions turned violent with mass street protests and several killings believed to be motivated by nationalist sentiment.


Several thousand young women are believed to be lured from Central Asia every year for purposes of prostitution. Governments in the region have been reluctant to discuss the problem of trafficking in humans, pretending the issue does not exist in their countries...However, recent decisions by both Kazakhstan and Tajikistan to amend relevant articles in their criminal codes indicate the governments are changing their approach to the issue.



Phone: +996 (312) 915000 ext. 326, 327

Email: tspc@auca.kg

Address: 7/6 Aaly Tokombaev Street, Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic 720060

 

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American University of Central Asia
7/6 Aaly Tokombaev Street
Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic 720060

Tel.: +996 (312) 915000 + Еxt.
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