Uzbekistan has responded to Dmitry Medvedev's ambiguous statements.

Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev has put forward an initiative that could significantly impact the educational process for migrant children in Russia. During a meeting focused on the state migration policy, Medvedev proposed to limit the enrollment of migrant children in Russian schools who do not speak the Russian language.

Medvedev believes that the presence of students in classrooms who do not speak Russian negatively affects the overall level of education. He emphasized that this issue is widely discussed at the local level and requires immediate resolution. “The situation where children come to schools with little knowledge of the Russian language affects the overall educational level. This is a well-known fact, and it needs to be addressed,” Medvedev stated.

Furthermore, the Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation raised the issue of the presence of migrant families in Russia. He expressed the opinion that individuals who are in the Russian Federation but are not engaged in work or education should leave the country. Medvedev referred to data from the All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VTsIOM), which indicates that 70% of Russians support tougher migration policies. “Citizens are tired of instances of inappropriate behavior from certain members of the migrant community. This needs to be dealt with,” Medvedev declared.

The remarks of the Russian politician resonated in Uzbekistan. Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis Alisher Kadyrov commented on Medvedev’s proposal. “Such a strict attitude towards children may foster a negative perception of the Russian language in the future,” Kadyrov wrote on his Telegram channel. He also noted that the funds allocated for promoting the Russian language in Uzbekistan could be used more effectively for teaching Russian to Uzbek citizens in Russia. According to Kadyrov, this approach would be more practical and would aid in the better integration of Uzbek migrants into Russian society.

In Uzbekistan, learning the Russian language has traditionally been an important part of the educational curriculum. Many citizens of Uzbekistan working in Russia face a language barrier, which can create difficulties in everyday life and professional activities. Kadyrov’s suggestion to redistribute funds for teaching the Russian language to Uzbeks in Russia could be one way to address this problem. This would allow migrants to adapt more quickly to their new environment, gain access to a wider range of opportunities, and make a more significant contribution to the economies of both countries.