Tajikistan Admits Over 600 Students Following Expulsion or Entry Denial in Russia

By Sadokat Jalolova

More than 6,000 applicants from Tajikistan were admitted to Russian universities in 2025, signaling that Russia is still the primary destination for Tajik students pursuing higher education abroad. The figures were announced by Tajikistan’s Minister of Education and Science, Rahim Saidzoda, during a press conference, according to Russia’s state news agency TASS.

Saidzoda reported that during the 2025-2026 academic year, a total of 6,665 Tajik applicants enrolled in foreign universities. Of these, 551 chose destinations other than Russia, while more than 6,000 began their studies at Russian institutions. Admissions took place both through government-allocated quotas and standard entry procedures.

At the same briefing, Deputy Minister of Education Lutfia Abdulholikzoda stated that over 600 Tajik students that had previously been expelled or denied entry to Russia in 2025 were subsequently admitted to universities in Tajikistan. She did not elaborate on the reasons for their removal but confirmed that they had been able to resume their education at home.

Russian education remains highly popular among Tajik students. Each year, Russia allocates approximately 1,000 government-funded study placements for Tajik nationals. In October 2025, Russia’s Ambassador to Tajikistan, Semyon Grigoryev, said that out of 43,000 Tajik students studying abroad, more than 30,000 were enrolled in Russian institutions.

Russian higher education is also present within Tajikistan. The Russian-Tajik Slavonic University enrolls over 6,000 students, while local branches of Moscow State University, the National University of Science and Technology MISIS, and the Moscow Power Engineering Institute collectively educate more than 8,000. In addition, several schools in Tajikistan operate entirely in Russian, and five Russian-funded schools built in 2022 follow Russian educational standards.