Russia Ramps Up Military Mobilization of Central Asian Migrants Amid Ethnic Strife.
Recent actions by the Russian government indicate an intensified effort to draft Central Asian migrants into the military. According to insights from the ISW, the Moscow Investigative Committee unveiled multiple criminal probes in late October, targeting migrants suspected of dodging military obligations. In a single day, the investigations surged from 12 to 22, culminating in 80 migrants being summoned for service.
Swaying the Ultra-Nationalist Factions?
An incident spotlighted by ISW occurred at Norilsk airport in the Krasnoyarsk region where 40 taxi drivers of migrant origin were apprehended by operatives from the Russian domestic intelligence and Rosgvardia. They were allegedly in violation of not registering with pertinent military departments. Analysts speculate that these initiatives might be Moscow’s bid to curry favor with the country’s ultranationalist factions, which harbor resentments against Central Asian migrants and are vocally advocating for their induction into the armed forces.
Image: Kremlin.ru, Putin-Shoigu (2022-06-22), CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (image size modified)