On October 21-22, Samarkand hosted a meeting of the Joint Commission under the Agreement on Cooperation among CIS Member States in Combating Illegal Migration.
The event brought together representatives from Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, as well as the CIS Anti-Terrorism Center (ATC CIS) and the Commonwealth's Executive Committee.
The Commission members exchanged updates on measures taken in their respective countries to counter illegal migration, strengthen control over migration flows, and amendments to national migration laws and corresponding penalties. They also welcomed a briefing from the ATC CIS on current terrorist threats within the Commonwealth.
The participants agreed to maintain and regularly update guides for foreign citizens on their official migration websites. These guides conveniently outline entry and stay regulations. Furthermore, the delegates shared best practices on using modern information technologies to combat illegal migration.
The Commission also discussed procedures for the registration and documentation of foreign nationals and stateless persons entering the Commonwealth countries.
The meeting highlighted the practical value of previously approved Guidelines on concluding and implementing readmission agreements with CIS states. The representatives also took note of information regarding national mechanisms for regulating the legal status of stateless individuals.
Additional agenda items included addressing mechanisms of illegal legalization and naturalization of foreigners, training and professional development for officials combating illegal migration, and the operation of the Interstate Information Bank.
As part of the program, the Commission’s members visited the situation center of the Samarkand Regional Police Department, where they observed first-hand the work and experience of units responsible for combating illegal migration and ensuring security at tourist sites.
The next meeting of the Joint Commission is scheduled for the second half of 2026 in Kazakhstan.