Our Research Assistant Ubaydullo Khujabekov participated in the international conference “Central Asia in a Changing World: Peace, Security and Conflict Dynamics”, held on 27–28 November 2025 in Almaty. The event was organized by the Centre for Research and Graduate Education of the Kazakh-German University in cooperation with the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Representative Office in Kazakhstan (Astana).

Ubaydullo Khujabekov was an active speaker in the panel “Migration, Local Governance & Human Security in Central Asia”, where he presented his research titled “Recruitment of Uzbek Migrant Workers in Russia: Propaganda Tactics and Methods”.

The presentation examined the complex challenges faced by Central Asian labor migrants, with a particular focus on their recruitment into the war in Ukraine. Key findings and recommendations highlighted during the session include:

- Current legislative and law-enforcement measures in Central Asia, while important, are insufficient on their own. They must be reinforced by comprehensive ideological, social, and psychological support programs to prevent citizens’ involvement in foreign armed conflicts and to ease the burden on families remaining in the region.

- A major driver of mercenary recruitment is illegal labor migration, which is fueled by low legal awareness, especially among young people from socially vulnerable backgrounds.

- Although a de-escalation of the Ukraine conflict and an improvement in global relations may eventually reduce these risks, urgent proactive measures are needed now to address the negative effects of illegal migration.

- The constant threat of deportation is used as a powerful leverage tool against migrants, pushing some to tie their long-term future to Russia’s political and cultural sphere.

The presentation sparked considerable interest and discussion among participants, underscoring the need for coordinated regional and international efforts to protect Central Asian migrants from exploitation and recruitment into foreign conflicts.