Uzbeks enslaved in Ukraine returned home

Thanks to the swift and coordinated efforts of the Embassy of Uzbekistan in cooperation with the National Police of Ukraine and the offices of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Ukraine and Moldova, 19 Uzbek citizens who had been in difficult circumstances in the Kyiv region were repatriated to Uzbekistan, the “Dunyo” news agency reported.

Reports about Uzbek citizens being held and forced to work in a greenhouse in the Kyiv region appeared in Ukrainian media on September 18.

According to the embassy, comprehensive measures were promptly organized to protect the rights and interests of the citizens, restore their legal status, and ensure their safe departure from Ukraine by resolving all necessary documentation and logistical issues.

As a result of negotiations, all 19 citizens were officially granted the status of “victims,” which fully eliminated any risk of sanctions being imposed on them under Ukrainian law.

With direct financial support from the IOM offices in Ukraine and Moldova, the Uzbek citizens were transported by road from Kyiv to Chișinău on October 28. During their stay in the Moldovan capital, they were provided with safe accommodation, food, and necessary assistance. On November 2, all 19 citizens departed on the Chișinău–Istanbul–Urgench flight accompanied by authorized IOM representatives and arrived in Uzbekistan on November 3.

“The return of the citizens is another successful example of Uzbekistan’s diplomacy. The Embassy of Uzbekistan in Ukraine continues to monitor the situation of compatriots in the country and responds promptly to any reports of violations of their legal rights and interests,” the statement said.

It should be recalled that earlier, 13 Uzbek citizens had been found in the Kyiv region of Ukraine, where they were subjected to forced labor and kept in harsh conditions. Following the incident, the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Ukraine issued an official statement, noting that diplomatic notes had been sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine to provide consular and legal assistance to the citizens. A criminal case was opened, and court proceedings against the suspects are currently underway.