A migrant worker from Tajikistan, 32-year-old Sayvali Sharipov, saved the lives of three children from a burning apartment on the evening of May 14, drawing widespread praise for his bravery.

According to the representative office of Tajikistan’s Ministry of Labor, Migration, and Employment of the Population (MoLMEP) in Russia, Sharipov had been purchasing medicine at a local pharmacy when he heard cries for help.  Rushing toward the source, he discovered a nearby apartment on fire.

Without hesitation, he climbed through a window and pulled out a child who told him that his sibling was still trapped inside.

Sharipov re-entered the smoke-filled apartment and rescued a second, unconscious child.  After catching his breath, he went back a third time and saved a teenager who was also inside the burning building.

“I’ve been living and working here for many years.  Everyone in this area knows me.  I just did what I believe anyone in my place would have done,” Sharipov said in a statement to the ministry’s representatives.

Sharipov, who has lived in Russia for 16 years, works as a hired laborer and is well known in his neighborhood.  His actions have since been praised on social media and in local news comment sections, where users described him as a hero and thanked him for his courage.

“When the story was reported by the media, I told my parents about what happened.  My father said to me, ‘It is every Tajik’s duty to do good, to show courage and strength. You did the right thing, my son,’” Sharipov said.

As of now, it remains unclear whether Sharipov will receive formal recognition or an award from Russian or Tajik authorities.

Not the only hero

Sharipov’s story is one of several recent incidents involving migrants from Tajikistan demonstrating acts of bravery in Russia.

Earlier this month, Otabek Madrahimov, another Tajik migrant in Moscow, used his water delivery truck to extinguish a car fire.  His actions were widely shared on social media, though only the Tajik labor ministry’s Russian office acknowledged his deed with a letter of thanks.

In other recent cases:

• Bakhtiyor Ismoilov saved an 11-month-old baby crawling on a highway in the Moscow region.
• Muhammadjon Obidov, a young paint mixer, stopped a man in an alcoholic stupor from abducting a newborn in July 2024.
• Hasan Avgonov, 58, jumped into freezing water to rescue two drowning children despite his poor health.

Calls for recognition

While these migrants are celebrated online, many say that Russian official media and authorities often overlook positive stories involving Central Asian nationals, focusing instead on negative narratives. Migrants and advocacy groups have repeatedly called for fairer treatment and more balanced coverage of the migrant community.

For now, Sayvali Sharipov remains humble about his actions.

“I just did what I had to do,” he said.