This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS  DUSHANBE 002038 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR EUR/CACEN, SA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV ELAB SMIG TI
SUBJECT: TAJIK GOVT INSISTS PASSPORT DECISION REVERSAL PRACTICAL NOT 
POLITICS 
 
 
¶1.  (SBU)  SUMMARY:  Tajikistan orders Tajiks to use 
international passports when traveling to Russia despite an 
Eurasian Economic Community (EEC) agreement permitting citizens 
to travel using internal passports.  This affects up to one 
million labor migrants who do not have the expensive 
international passport.  Tajikistan believes the use of an 
international passport will help to curb harassment from foreign 
border and law enforcement officials.  Press reports claim they 
are also responding to pressure from Russian parliamentarians 
looking to reduce the number of Tajiks in Russia.  Regardless of 
the type of identification, migrant workers face harassment, 
discrimination and hardship working in Russia.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2.  (SBU)  PolOff met with Amirsho, a Tajik labor migrant 
traveling to Russia for 10 years who has worked on construction 
sites in Moscow and Novosibirsk.  His employers pay him $500 a 
month for backbreaking work, digging wells and constructing 
walls.  In the past, he and other migrants have lived on the 
open construction sites where they worked with no heating or 
running water.  Now he shares a small flat with other migrants. 
Amirsho now faces a much more difficult time traveling between 
Russia and Tajikistan. 
 
¶3.  (SBU)  The mandatory use of international passports for 
Tajik citizens to travel to Russia is a practical decision made 
in the best interest of Tajik citizens, not a political one, 
insists Igor Sattarov, Head of the Information Department of the 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a meeting with PolOff.   Members 
of the EEC: Russia, Tajikistan, Kyrgystan, Kazakhstan, and 
Belarus agreed to allow citizens to travel through each country 
with only their internal domestic passports, effective November 
¶1.  Although not legally required, Tajikistan is now "strongly 
encouraging" its citizens to travel with international 
passports.  News sources report state-owned Tajikistan Airlines 
refused passengers entry onto flights without international 
passports. 
 
¶4.  (SBU)  Tajik international passports cost approximately $30. 
 For most Tajiks, $30 is their average monthly salary and an 
international passport is prohibitively expensive.   In 
addition, illegal migrants who are already out of Tajikistan 
cannot apply for a passport in their host country.  This new 
government directive affects the estimated one million Tajiks 
who travel to Russia for work.  Remittances from labor migrants 
contribute to 15% of the Tajik economy.  Restrictive conditions 
not permitting labor migrants to work could have a notable 
impact on the economy. 
 
KEEPING TAJIK CITIZENS INTERESTS IN MIND 
 
¶5.  (SBU)  A long negotiation over a list of acceptable travel 
documents began in February 2004.  In January 2005, Russia 
insisted that Tajiks needed international passports to enter 
Russia.  However, they relented when Tajikistan reciprocated and 
refused Russian citizens entry without international passports. 
A renegotiation began and in October the EEC agreed that 
internal passports could be used for international travel. 
Despite protests from Russia's Duma, the Russian government 
upholds the policy. 
 
¶6.  (SBU)  Contrary to news reports, Sattorov insists the Duma's 
criticism is not the main factor in Tajikistan's decision. 
Sattorov explained the government recommends foreign travel with 
international passports because it is concerned Tajiks, 
particularly labor migrants would face problems while traveling 
through Kyrgystan and Kazakhstan where some have been refused 
entry in the past without international passports.  Although 
permissible, uninformed border officials may use the lack of an 
international passport to bribe or harass travelers.  Sattorov 
also noted that Tajikistan worries Russia will change its mind 
once again and decide to officially require international 
passports. 
 
HARD WORK IN RUSSIA IS BETTER THAN IN TAJIKISTAN 
 
 
¶7.  (SBU)  Most Tajik migrant workers are laborers on 
construction sites, in factories or on farms.  About 25% are 
professionals engaged in trade, education or law enforcement.  A 
slim group, about 3%, according to Embassy estimates, is 
involved with criminal gangs. 
 
¶8.  (SBU)  Most migrants live and work in Russia illegally. 
Regulations stipulate registered migrant workers must pay 33% of 
their salary to the government.  Employers also have to pay 
taxes, therefore it is not beneficial for either to register. 
Because of their illegal status, migrants cannot report crimes 
committed against them to the police and must pay out of pocket 
for medical services. 
 
¶9.  (SBU)  Traveling to Russia is difficult.  Without an 
international passport, militia and train inspectors are able to 
extract bribes easily.  After arriving in Russia, life does not 
get any better.  The Russia militia consistently beat and bribe 
Tajik migrant workers.  Russian police have even stolen money 
from Amirsho and his fellow Tajik migrant colleagues.  Sometimes 
the police raid the living quarters of migrant workers, accuse 
them of an arbitrary crime and fine them or threaten them with 
imprisonment.  Amirsho's family is concerned for his safety and 
does not want him to return to Russia.  Recent rumors of 
"skinheads" attacking migrants raise fears in the community. 
 
¶10.  (SBU)  When asked if all the hard work, harassment, and 
physical and mental distress were worth it, Amirsho replied with 
a resolute, "Yes."  Although traveling to and working in Russia 
is difficult, the financial rewards and benefits of supporting a 
family outweigh the individual costs. 
 
¶11.  (SBU)  COMMENT:  Tajik migrant workers, whether registered 
or illegal, are subject to discrimination in Russia.  The Duma's 
objection to the use of internal passports may inflame 
mistreatment of migrant workers.  However, migrant workers will 
still flock to Russia and other CIS countries for the financial 
opportunities, regardless of passport requirements. 
 
¶12.  (SBU)  Russia's and Tajikistan's migrant labor and illegal 
immigration woes are much like the challenges faced by the 
United States and Mexico.  While a difficult political issue for 
all four countries, a dialogue on the issue could be beneficial 
to all sides, especially if Parliamentarians and U.S. 
Congressional representatives are involved. 
 
END COMMENT. 
ARMBRUSTER 
 
 
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