Surveillance, harassment and bribes: everyday life for migrants in RussiaListen to this articleMigrant workers are vital for Russia's economy, which is facing labour shortages amid the Ukraine offensive. (Photo: AFP)KRASNOGORSK —Facing digital surveillance, bribes, humiliation and street harassment, Kyrgyz taxi driver Alym never has an easy life in Russia. "We have to pay, pay, pay for everything," the 38-year-old father of two told Agence France-Presse (AFP) near Moscow. Among some of the requirements rolled out are ultra-tough language tests for the children of migrants looking to enter Russian schools. In December, a teenager with neo-Nazi views stabbed a 10-year-old Tajik boy to death at a school near Moscow.

Source: Bangkok Post January 16, 2026 06:56 UTC