Russian Duma Deputy Calls Recruiting Afghan Workers a 'Big Mistake'

A deputy chairman of the Russian State Duma's Committee on Regional Policies has opposed the recruitment of Afghan workers to Russia, calling the idea a "big mistake" and a threat to the country's security.

Mikhail Matveyev claimed that Afghan migrants top the statistics of violent crimes in some European countries. He stated that although Afghans are skilled in using weapons from a young age, they do not possess the skills needed for the Russian economy.

The remarks follow efforts by Gol Hassan Hassan, the Taliban ambassador in Moscow, who has been negotiating with Russian officials on recruiting professional Afghan citizens. Zamir Kabulov previously stated that Moscow and the Taliban had conducted expert-level talks on the issue to address labor shortages.

The proposal has elicited mixed reactions within Russia, with some viewing it as a potential solution to workforce deficits and others raising alarms over possible security risks.