"We are very grateful for the contribution of those Uzbek citizens who work in the Russian economy. They are indeed making a significant contribution, especially now, in a tight labor market. We appreciate it," Reshetnikov said, as quoted by RIA Novosti.

He noted that migrants pay taxes in Russia and also support their families in Uzbekistan, thereby sustaining the economy of their own country as well.

In 2023, the number of foreign labor migrants in the Russian labor market reached about 3.5 million people, with the number of illegal migrants estimated at around 630,000.

At the same time, the flow of migrants in 2023 reached its lowest level in the last decade, totaling 560,000 people. This is 23% less compared to 2022, when 730,000 people visited the country.