On November 3, 19 citizens of Uzbekistan who had found themselves in conditions of forced labor in Ukraine returned home. Their return was made possible as a result of cooperation between diplomatic missions and international organizations.
On September 18, Ukrainian mass media reported that compatriots had been subjected to forced labor at a greenhouse farm near Kyiv. The Embassy of Uzbekistan in Kyiv immediately intervened and took measures to protect the rights of the citizens.
As a result of negotiations with the Ukrainian government, all 19 Uzbeks were granted the status of "victims," which exempted them from possible legal prosecution. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) provided financial and logistical assistance.
On October 28, the citizens were transported from Kyiv to Chisinau, where they were provided with accommodation and food. On November 2, they flew along the Chisinau – Istanbul – Urgench route and arrived in Uzbekistan the next day.
The embassy in Kyiv continues to monitor the protection of the rights of compatriots in Ukraine.
