President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a decree on December 13 adding First Secretary/representative of the Interior Ministry role to the staff list of the Uzbek Embassy in Russia.
The goals of the move are reportedly to promote the swift protection of the rights of Uzbek nationals in Russia, as well as to build close cooperation with the law enforcement agencies of the Russian Federation with an aim to counter organized crime, terrorism, extremism, human trafficking, illegal migration and other types of crime.
Main tasks of the new role:
- building close cooperation between the Interior Ministry of Uzbekistan and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, "based on mutual trust and generally recognized principles and norms of international law";
- preparing proposals for the development of cooperation in the fight against crime and ensuring public safety between Uzbekistan and the Russian Federation on an ongoing basis, as well as assisting in the expansion of international cooperation in ensuring the rights of Uzbek nationals;
- enhancing cooperation between the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Uzbekistan and the Ministry of Internal Affairs and other law enforcement agencies of the Russian Federation in combating organized crime, terrorism, extremism, human trafficking, illegal migration and other types of crimes, as well as assisting in their disclosure and organizing the exchange of operational information in these areas;
- assisting in performing consular functions to protect the rights of Uzbek nationals;
- receiving and considering verbal, letters in writing or electronic letters from individuals and legal entities on matters of crime, offenses, human trafficking and illegal migration.
Persons for the new role shall be appointed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs upon the recommendation of the Minister of Internal Affairs in agreement with the President. In the part of police activities, the representative shall be subordinate to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
