Day: May 1, 2025

On April 29, an interagency delegation from Uzbekistan visited Moscow for the inaugural session of the Uzbekistan–Russia working group on labor migration and migrant rights. The Prosecutor General’s Office of Uzbekistan reported that the delegation was led by Uzbekistan’s Deputy Prosecutor General Shohrukh Aminov.

The Russian delegation was headed by Deputy Prosecutor General Pyotr Gorodov and included representatives from the Prosecutor General’s Office, the Federal Security Service, and the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Internal Affairs.

Uzbekistan’s delegation comprised officials from the Prosecutor General’s Office, the State Security Service, the Migration Agency, and the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Internal Affairs, and Health.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed the current state of labor migration, identified ongoing challenges, and explored potential solutions. They agreed to develop joint measures to regulate legal migration while balancing the interests of both countries.

The delegations also agreed to strengthen oversight of the rights of Uzbek citizens working in Russia and Russian citizens visiting Uzbekistan. Both countries’ Prosecutor General’s Offices pledged to closely monitor the protection of migrant rights.

At the conclusion of the meeting, a protocol was signed outlining the decisions made. The implementation of these agreements will be jointly monitored by both Prosecutor General’s Offices.

The session followed Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s recent visit to Uzbekistan, during which he stressed the importance of migrants understanding Russian laws and language. While warning of an increase in migrant-related crime, he also acknowledged Russia’s ongoing need for foreign labor.

On April 29, the United Nations General Assembly officially declared a new international observance — the International Day in Memory of the Victims of Earthquakes. The initiative, jointly proposed by Chile, the Philippines, and Uzbekistan, received widespread support from UN member states. The day will be commemorated annually to honor the victims of past earthquakes and raise awareness about seismic risks and disaster preparedness.

Earthquakes remain among the deadliest natural disasters in human history, responsible for massive destruction and loss of life. Most recently, on March 28, a powerful earthquake in Myanmar claimed more than 3,700 lives. In Turkey and Syria, millions are still recovering from the devastating earthquakes of 2023, which killed over 55,000 people.

Uzbekistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ulugbek Lapasov, stated that the declaration is not only a tribute to victims but also a global call to action. “We thank all member states who supported the resolution, as well as the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction for their help,” he stated.

Uzbekistan has itself experienced devastating earthquakes. One of the most significant occurred in the early morning of April 26, 1966, when a powerful earthquake struck the capital city of Tashkent. The disaster left 300,000 people homeless and caused severe damage to homes, schools, hospitals, and factories. Eight people were killed, and about 150 were injured.

Important documents and photographs from the 1966 disaster are preserved in the Central State Archive of Tashkent.

Located in a seismically active region, Tashkent has a long history of earthquakes. Historical sources, including the writings of 19th-century historian Muhammad Solih, document earlier seismic events, such as the destructive earthquake of April 1866, which caused widespread damage to mosques and homes and many deaths.

The city’s history of resilience lives on today. Many of Tashkent’s buildings, decorated with colorful mosaics, were built during the post-earthquake reconstruction.