Five arrested for protesting Tajik deportations from Russia

DUSHANBE, November 28, 2011, Asia-Plus -- Police in Moscow have arrested five people who were part of a protest against recent deportations of Tajik migrant laborers from Russia, Radio Liberty reported on November 27.

The five were detained at the "I am Tajik -- Deport Me!" rally on November 24 outside the Federal Migration Service in Moscow.

Some of the protesters were washing windows at the migration service building and sweeping the sidewalks, work often performed by migrant laborers in Russia.

Russian news agency Interfax cited an unnamed police official as saying the five people, none of whom were ethnic Tajiks, were members of an “anarchist movement.”

Russia started deporting Tajik migrant laborers earlier this month, which many have suggested was in retaliation for Tajik authorities putting a Russian pilot on trial.

The Russian pilot was convicted but quickly received an amnesty.