"The head of Russia's migration service announced on 11 July 2007 that his country and Uzbekistan have signed three migration deals ... Uzbekistan is the third largest source of migrant workers in Russia, tied with Tajikistan and following Ukraine and Kazakhstan. An estimated 500,000 Uzbek migrant workers came to Russia in 2006. The deals may also be part of an effort for Uzbekistan to crack down on "illegal labor emigration" from its borders." (Quoted from article)