24 Tajiks held in detention center in St. Petersburg pending deportation

DUSHANBE, December 29, 2011, Asia-Plus – Tajik Migration Service’s office in the Russian Federation is providing New Year’s food assistance to Tajik nationals being held at St. Petersburg Detention Center for Foreign Citizens pending deportation.

Bakhtiyor Ismonov, representative of Tajik Migration Service’s office in the Russian Federation, told Asia-Plus today that some 150 foreign citizens, including 24 Tajik nationals, are currently being held at the St. Petersburg detention center.

“Each of Tajik nationals has received food assistance on the occasion of New Year,” said Ismonov, “They have received parcel of fruits, juices and rolls each.”

According to him, it is already third such an action conducted by the Migration Service’ office over the past one and half months.

Ismonov says he is in constant contact with officers from the St. Petersburg detention center for foreign citizens.  “Persons being held at the St. Petersburg detention center are mostly foreign citizens who have lost their passports.  The procedure of identification of them – from making an inquiry to the country of allegiance to receiving appropriate documents -- may take several months,” said Ismonov.  “Some of Tajik nationals are being held at the center for several months or even more than a year pending deportation.”

“Our nationals themselves are frequently aggravating the situation, not applying to the law enforcement agencies over loss of passport,” Ismonov said.

He added that there was Tajik Honorary Consul in St. Petersburg who was dedicated to tackle such problems.

We recall that persons deported from Russia are barred from returning for five years.