Nineteen Uzbek Citizens Repatriated from Ukraine

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Nineteen citizens of Uzbekistan, who found themselves in difficult circumstances in Ukraine, have been safely returned home, the Dunyo News Agency reports, citing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The repatriation was made possible through prompt and coordinated actions by the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Kyiv, with assistance from the National Police of Ukraine and the offices of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Ukraine and Moldova.

Previously, on September 18, Ukrainian media reported that a group of Uzbek citizens was working under conditions resembling forced labor in one of the greenhouses in Kyiv region. Following this, the situation was immediately placed under strict diplomatic oversight.

The embassy swiftly undertook comprehensive measures to protect the rights of its citizens, including resolving all documentation and logistical issues necessary for their safe return. As a result of these efforts, all 19 individuals were officially granted “victim” status, ensuring that no sanctions under Ukrainian law would be applied to them.

On 28 October, with financial support from the IOM, the citizens were transported from Kyiv to Chișinău, where they were provided with safe living conditions, meals, and essential assistance. On 2 November, they flew from Chișinău to Urgench via Istanbul, arriving safely in Uzbekistan on 3 November.

This case exemplifies the systematic work of the Uzbek diplomatic service in protecting the rights and interests of the country’s citizens abroad. The Embassy of Uzbekistan in Ukraine continues to monitor issues related to the safety and legal protection of Uzbek citizens in the host country.