State promotes migration
Within the framework of a migration program launched by the Russian Federation, 711 families have already left Armenia and settled in distant regions of Russia.
The "Compatriots" program launched in 2006, allows participants to resettle in remote areas of Russia, granting them Russian citizenship and financial assistance. Program participants are assigned a job (possible options range from nurse to construction worker), a lump payment depending on resettlement location and occupation, and a place to live in one of the 24 Russian regions.
The program in Armenia is coordinated by the Federal Migration Service of Russia under an intergovernmental agreement reached between Armenia and Russia in 1997. According to the deputy administrator Alexander Kandev, the program does not intend to forcibly resettle Armenians.
"We only assist to those who wish to emigrate from the country," said Kandev.
Commenting on allegations that Russia has promised great sums of money to participants, Kandev said that all financial expenses are paid by participants.
Anyway, he confirmed that those who settle in the Far East receive 120 000 roubles as an assistance.
Arthur Ghazinyan, an associate professor at Yerevan State University, has launched a struggle on Facebook against coordinated migration.
"At first only men left the country in search of better job opportunities. However, today their families are leaving the country to join them in Russia. This is an irreparable loss for us," he said adding that the protest is not targeted at Russia; rather, it aims to ensure stable development of Armenia.
Ghazinyan says that the two countries should continue their strategic partnership, but only as equal partners, so as not to jeopardize the existing friendship between the two peoples.
"Once a slogan was circulated in political circles of Russia - "Armenia without Armenians." I hope that Russia has reconsidered its stance towards Armenia and views it as a stable partner," Ghazinyan stressed.
