Nearly 96,500 citizens of Uzbekistan returned home from Russia within ten days, according to the Uzbek Cabinet of Ministers’ Migration Agency. The agency said 96,415 people travelled from Russia to Uzbekistan between 25 August and 5 September, as Russia’s share of Uzbek labour migration continues to decline.
Of those who returned, 54,885 travelled directly from Russia, while 41,530 returned through Kazakhstan. The Migration Agency said it had been assisting Uzbek citizens working in Russia, including with legal and labour issues, difficult personal circumstances and finding alternative employment or returning home.
The agency did not provide comparable figures for previous years or say whether those returning planned to work in Uzbekistan or seek jobs in other countries.
The scale of the departures has prompted different explanations. Uzbek news outlet Upl.uz attributed the returns to low wages, instability and security concerns in Russia. Russian outlet Tsargrad TV also cited economic difficulties and security issues, while pointing to tighter migration policies and Russia’s focus on attracting highly qualified specialists and combating illegal migration.
The latest figures come as Uzbekistan’s dependence on Russia as a destination for labour migration has been declining. According to data cited by Gazeta.uz from the Migration Agency, about 1.4 million Uzbeks were working in nearly 40 countries, with around 60% in Russia. The share of migrants going to other CIS countries has fallen, while migration to Europe and East Asia has increased.
A similar shift is visible in remittances. Uzbekistan received $3.8 billion in remittances in the first quarter of 2026, up 13% year on year, but Russia’s share fell from 77.6% to 72.4%. The Central Bank attributed the decline partly to higher work-patent costs in Russia, the weaker rouble and the expansion of alternative migration destinations.
The number of Uzbek citizens working in Russia on patents also fell to 1.34 million in the first quarter, down 8.8% from the previous quarter and 1.8% year on year.
The data suggest that the recent return of Uzbek citizens is part of a broader change in the geography of labour migration. If the trend continues, Russia’s role as the main destination for Uzbek workers and source of remittances could decline further as more migrants turn to European and East Asian labour markets.
