On Monday, 15 April 2023, 17:00-18:30 CET (16:00-17:30 GMT +1), the Centre for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence (CSTPV) and the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism (ICCT) will host a joint Live Briefing on "The Crocus City Hall Terrorist Attack - Regional, Political and Security Implications".
While we no clear evidence has yet been presented for who did it and why, it is clear that the Moscow attack will have serious repercussions for Central Asian migrants in Russia and for Russia-Central Asia relations. The arrest of four Tajik men and their arraignment that did not acknowledge visible evidence of torture triggered a wave of harassment and renewed media commentary on Central Asia and its peoples as a source of danger.
Will the migration regime change as a result? Will Central migrants in Europe and elsewhere face additional pressure and scrutiny? Could the pressure of being trapped between discrimination and mobilisation to Russia's war in Ukraine lead even more Central Asians to attempt to claim asylum or cross illegally at the US southern border? How should the US respond?
The suspected ISIS-K connection, which fits a pattern of recent attacks and arrests, brings attention back to the problem of armed Islamist groups and insurgencies from Central Asian and the Caucasus and Russia's role as one of their primary targets. Will we see more joint efforts to deal with the ISIS-K? Will the terror attack be used for political purposes by Russia in its war against Ukraine, or Tajik authorities in their campaign against the Islamic Renaissance Party? Will the attack and recent arrests of Tajik citizens abroad increase the willingness of European states to cooperate with trans-national repressions? And another on Russia’s use of CSTO? What can be done to increase the human security of Central Asian labour migrants in this climate, and who can do it?
Speakers:
Kacper Rekawek - International Centre for Counter-Terrorism
Malika Bahovadinova - University of Amsterdam
Sirojiddin Tolibov - Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
Edward Lemon - Oxus Society
Noah Tucker - University of St Andrews & Oxus Society
For registrations, please send an email to irevents@st-andrews.ac.uk.
