Uzbekistan returns nearly 5,000 citizens stranded abroad in nine months

Uzbekistan's Migration Agency said 22.4 billion soums were allocated in the first nine months of 2026 to support citizens facing difficult situations abroad. Using these funds, 4,968 citizens were returned home at a cost of 20.396 billion soums.

Other assistance included one-time material aid to 1,171 citizens (1.563 billion soums), temporary accommodation in a hostel or shelter for 167 people (249 million soums), and covered medical costs for 38 citizens (228.6 million soums). Over the nine months, 817 citizens who had trouble receiving wages and compensation applied to the Agency, which recovered a total of $850,000 for Uzbek citizens.

Most cases involved Russia (533), Turkey (155) and South Korea (92); 37 concerned other countries. Remittances to Uzbekistan from abroad in January–June 2026 rose 13% to $9.3 billion, helped by stable wages of workers abroad, stronger currencies in some countries and more Uzbeks going to work in Europe and Asia.