KHUAJND, January 4, Asia-Plus - A seminar to discuss a progress of the implementation of the Russian national program on voluntary resettlement of fellow-countrymen to the Russian Federation was held in Khujand on December 30.  

Russian General Consul to Sughd Province, Azim Yarakhmedov, remarked at the meeting that the program is designed for the period until 2012.  

On the financial support to fellow-countrymen living in Sughd, Yarakhmedov noted that last year alone, the Russian consulate provided financial support in a total amount of $65,000.  The consul noted that at present some 20,000 Russian-speaking people live in northern Tajikistan.  

Dwelling on the labor migration issues, the consul noted that annually, some 600,000 Tajik migrants leave for Russia seeking better employment opportunities.  According to him, because of poor knowledge of the employment realities and legal requirements in the Russian Federation, many of them find themselves in irregular situations.  “Russia needs competent and law-abiding manpower,” Yarakhmedov said.    

He reminded that under the agreement between Russia and Tajikistan on avoiding double taxation labor migrant has the right to choose which state he will pay taxes.