Russia’s evolving migration stance forces rethink in Central Asia

In face of Russian crackdowns, Central Asian governments look to high-income markets and homegrown job programs for relief.

When Ulanbek Duishenkulov, a young man from Kyrgyzstan attending the Financial University in Moscow, arrived in Russia in September to begin his third year of studies, he was met with an unpleasant surprise.

Instead of briefly checking his passport and waving him through, border officials at Sheremetyevo Airport detained the student and then questioned h…