The Tashkent government says Uzbekistan has no plans to deport Russians fleeing en masse to Central Asia to evade conscription amid Moscow’s military campaign in Ukraine.
Hundreds of thousands of men, some with their families, have fled Russia since President Vladimir Putin ordered partial mobilization last week. Many of them left for Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and other former Soviet republics of Central Asia.
However, some draft evaders remain concerned about their safety in these countries due to their governments’ close ties to Moscow.
The Uzbek Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it remains committed to the principles of respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other countries and supports the peaceful resolution of the conflict in Ukraine.
“…foreigners who have not violated the law are not subject to forced deportation,” she added.
Uzbekistan did not say how many Russians have arrived in the country since the mobilization was announced. Neighboring Kazakhstan said it saw the arrival of about 100,000 people.
Source: El Nashra