DUSHANBE, August 28, Asia-Plus — 6,000 Tajik nationals have expressed wish to leave for Russia under the Russian program for voluntary resettlement of fellow-countrymen living abroad, Asia-Plus has learned at the representative office of Russia’ Federal Migration Service (FMS) in Dushanbe.  

The source at the FMS local office said that 6,000 Tajik citizens having expressed wish to leave for the Russian Federation have been registered with the office so far.  

“We are currently making preparations for launching the second stage of the program,” said the source, “The second stage designed for 2007-2008 provides for direct resettlement of the program participants to the Russian Federation as well as analysis of the results of implementation of these regional resettlement programs.” 

According to the FMS local office, the program for voluntary resettlement of fellow-countrymen is funded from the Russian federal and regional budgets as well as at the expense of legal and physical entities participating in implementation of this program.    

The three-staged program for voluntary resettlement of fellow-countrymen living abroad was launched last year and will be finished in 2012. 

The first stage included adoption of legal documents necessary for organizing the voluntary resettlement  of fellow-countrymen to Russia, creation of system to manage the program, assessment of Russia’s requirements in manpower as well as preparedness of regional infrastructure (providing basis social services, housing, etc) for accepting migrants.  

The third stage that will be launched in 2009 will conclude implementation of the program and assess effectiveness of implementation of the regional resettlement programs.