Russia Ready to Return Over 3,000 Uzbek Prisoners

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Russia has announced its readiness to transfer over 3,000 Uzbek citizens serving sentences in Russian prisons to continue serving their terms in Uzbekistan.

Many prisoners have expressed the desire to return home, but the transfer process is currently delayed due to legal constraints.

Russian Commissioner for Human Rights Tatiana Moskalkova emphasized Russia’s willingness to assist in the transfer of Uzbek citizens, noting that the procedure can only proceed once Uzbekistan ratifies the international convention on the transfer of sentenced persons.

The convention, adopted in 1998, establishes a framework for transferring prisoners between countries, allowing them to continue serving their sentences in their home country. In Russia, the convention has been in effect for many years and similar mechanisms are applied with countries such as Kazakhstan, Belarus, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.

Human rights advocates argue that serving sentences in one’s home country is more humane and aids social rehabilitation.

Uzbekistan’s current lack of ratification remains the main obstacle to implementing this initiative. Consultations between the two countries continue to resolve procedural issues and enable the transfer of prisoners to their homeland.