Kyrgyzstan Sues Russia Over Violation Of Migrants' Rights

• 27.01.2026, 23:41

The Russian Federation refuses to provide migrant families with free health insurance.

The Kyrgyz authorities filed a lawsuit against Russia in the court of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), accusing it of violating the rights of Kyrgyz labor migrants. Russia's actions against the families of migrant workers contradict Articles 96-97 of the EAEU agreement on the social security of migrants, the chairman of Kyrgyzstan's Compulsory Medical Insurance Fund Azamat Mukanov said at a meeting of a specialized committee in the country's parliament (Jogorku Kenesh) on Tuesday, January 27.

The case concerns the Russian authorities' refusal to issue free compulsory medical insurance (CMI) policies to family members of foreigners who came to work in Russia. "Medical insurance should also cover family members of migrant workers. This issue was also discussed during the visit of Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk," Mukanov pointed out. The court is already considering the claim of Kyrgyzstan, the decision will be made in two weeks, he added.

The Russian authorities have previously changed the rules of providing medical care to migrant workers. State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said that foreign citizens will be entitled to free medical care only after five years of legal work in Russia, according to the new rules. Against the backdrop of tougher migrant policies, millions of foreigners have left Russia since 2024. The authorities of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and a number of other countries recommended their citizens not to travel to Russia.